JP2011123354A - Opening/closing attaching/detaching mechanism and image forming apparatus having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an opening/closing attaching/detaching mechanism or the like where an end on an opening side of an attaching/detaching component, a holding section for holding the end, and a pressing means for pressing the end to the holding section mount the attaching/detaching component to a mounting section without touching each other in an abnormal state, when an opening/closing member blocks the opening in the mounting section for mounting the attaching/detaching component of the device body. <P>SOLUTION: This opening/closing attaching/detaching mechanism includes the opening/closing member for opening/closing the opening in the mounting section, the holding section that is disposed in the opening/closing member and touches and holds the end on the opening side of the attaching/detaching component when it is mounted to the mounting section in a process where the opening/closing member is closed, the pressing means that is disposed in the opening/closing member, touches a part of the end on the opening side of the attaching/detaching component when it is mounted to the mounting section, and applies a pressing force for pressing the attaching/detaching component in the pressing direction to the mounting section and the pressing direction to the holding section, and a displacing means for applying a displacement force for displacing at least the end on the opening side of the attaching/detaching component in the separating direction from the holding section following the operation where the opening/closing member blocks the opening. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an opening / closing mechanism and an image forming apparatus including the opening / closing mechanism.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there are image forming apparatuses in which improvements relating to positioning and detachability workability of detachable components that are detachably mounted on a mounting portion of an apparatus main body are added. For example, the following are known. Yes.

  An apparatus for supporting a plurality of units in which a device for performing one step of image forming processing can be inserted into and removed from a storage position and a drawing position, and facing an insertion / removal opening of the plurality of units. A face plate capable of opening and closing the insertion / removal opening is provided, and the face plate is provided with a support portion of an apparatus provided in the plurality of units, and the support portion closes the insertion / removal opening. An image forming apparatus using a unit support device having a configuration capable of positioning in the biasing direction by biasing the device in one direction is known (Patent Document 1).

  Also, a process cartridge (pressing object) that is detachable from the apparatus main body and receives a pressing force, a pressing means for applying the pressing force to the cartridge, and the apparatus main body for acting and releasing the pressing force An image forming apparatus having an opening / closing member (pressing operation member) for opening and closing the process cartridge attaching / detaching opening and a pressing operation shaft for pivotally supporting the opening / closing member so that the pressing force acts on the process cartridge. In the state, a force acting on the opening / closing member by the pressing means is a pressing operation force, a moment centered on the pressing operation shaft generated by the pressing operation force is an operating moment, and a previous pressing operation shaft generated by the pressing force is When the moment at the center is the pressing moment, the pressing means has the operating moment smaller than the pressing moment. An image forming apparatus the pressing force so that as conversion to the pressing operation force is known (Patent Document 2).

  Further, an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, wherein a plurality of cartridges, a mounting part to which the plurality of cartridges are detachably mounted, and a rotatable part are provided, and the mounting part is Opening and closing members that open and close, a plurality of biased portions that respectively correspond to the plurality of cartridges, and a plurality of biased portions that are provided on the opening and closing member and bias the plurality of biased portions when closing the opening and closing members, respectively. An image forming apparatus configured to have different peak timings of reaction forces from the plurality of biased portions to the plurality of biasing portions generated when the opening / closing member is closed. Is known (Patent Document 3).

JP 2004-246000 A JP 2006-308771 A JP 2008-216331 A

  When the opening / closing member closes the opening in the mounting portion on which the detachable component of the apparatus main body is mounted, the end on the opening side of the detachable component, the holding portion that holds the end, and the end The present invention provides an opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism capable of attaching an attachment / detachment component to an attachment portion without contacting the pressing means for pressing the holding portion against the holding portion in an abnormal state, and an image forming apparatus including the opening / detachment mechanism.

The opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism of this invention (A1)
An apparatus main body having a mounting portion that is detachably mounted by being moved so that the detachable product is pushed or pulled out through the opening;
An opening and closing member attached to the apparatus main body and opening and closing an opening in the mounting portion;
A holding portion that is provided on the opening / closing member and holds the end portion on the opening side of the detachable component when the opening / closing member is mounted in contact with the opening / closing member in the process of being closed;
The holding portion provided on the opening / closing member and in contact with a part of the opening side end portion of the detachable component when the detachable component is mounted on the mounting portion, and the holding portion Pressing means for applying a pressing force in the pressing direction to
Displacement means for applying a displacement force for displacing at least the end of the detachable component in the direction away from the holding portion in accordance with the operation of closing the opening by the opening / closing member. To do.

  The opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism of the invention (A2) is the opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism of the invention A1, wherein the displacement means is before the holding portion holds the end of the attachment / detachment component and the pressing means is attached / detached. Before contacting a part of the end of the component, at least the end on the opening side of the detachable component is displaced in a direction away from the holding portion.

  The opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism of this invention (A3) is the opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism of the invention A1 or A2, wherein the pressing force in the direction of pressing against the holding portion of the pressing means is such that when the opening / closing member closes the opening, It is set to be larger than the displacement force of the displacement means.

  The opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism of the present invention (A4) is the opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism of any one of the inventions A1 to A3, wherein the pressing means and the displacement means are in contact with a part of an end of the attachment / detachment component. Thus, when the pressing force starts to be applied, the displacement means is set to be in a state in which the end of the detachable component is displaced in a direction away from the holding portion.

  The opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism according to the present invention (A5) is the opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism according to any one of the inventions A1 to A4, wherein the pressing means applies a pressing force to push the attachment / detachment component in the push-in direction. It is configured so as to be exerted prior to the pressing force that is pressed in the pressing direction.

  The opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism according to the present invention (A6) is the opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism according to any one of the inventions A1 to A5, wherein the pressing means is provided in a pressing member provided in the opening / closing member and the attachment / detachment component. A pressed member provided with a contact surface having a shape capable of generating a pressing force to be pressed in the pressing direction and a pressing force to be pressed in the pressing direction when a part of the pressing member comes into contact with the operation of closing the member; It is composed of.

  The opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism according to the present invention (A7) is changed to a state in which the opening / detachment mechanism according to any one of the inventions A1 to A6 applies the displacement force in conjunction with the operation when the opening / closing member is closed. And it is comprised so that it may change to the state which does not give the said displacement force in response to the operation | movement when the said opening-and-closing member opens.

  The opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism of the present invention (A8) is the same as the opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism of any of the inventions A1 to A7, wherein the displacement means is displaced in contact with a part of the attachment / detachment component attached to the attachment portion. A contact member provided in the mounting portion of the apparatus main body so as to move to an operating position to be moved and a retracted position that does not contact a part of the detachable component, and a moving unit that moves the contact member to at least the two positions. It is composed of.

  The opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism according to the present invention (A9) is a restraining portion for restricting and stopping a range in which a part of the pressing member in contact with the contact surface moves in the pressed member in the opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism according to the invention A6. Is provided.

  The opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism of this invention (A10) is the opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism of the above-mentioned invention A8, wherein the attachment / detachment component includes a power-supplied component that requires power supply, and the contact member of the displacement means is connected to the power supply means. It is also configured as a member.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention (B1) is characterized by including the opening / closing mechanism according to any one of the aforementioned inventions A1 to A10.

  According to the opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism of the invention A1, when the opening / closing member closes the opening in the attachment portion for attaching the attachment / detachment component of the apparatus main body, the end on the opening side of the attachment / detachment component and the holding portion of the opening / closing member The detachable component can be mounted on the mounting portion without contacting the pressing means in an abnormal state.

  According to the opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism of the invention A2, when the opening / closing member closes the opening in the mounting portion, the end on the opening side of the attachment / detachment component, the holding portion, and the pressing means do not contact in an abnormal state. The detachable component can be mounted on the mounting portion.

  According to the opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism of the invention A3, it is possible to prevent the end of the attachment / detachment component on the opening side from being held in an abnormal state.

  According to the opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism of the above invention A4, the end of the attachment / detachment component on the opening side comes into contact with the holding portion of the opening / closing member in an unexpected state and stops as compared with the case without the configuration of the invention. This can be suppressed.

  According to the opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism of the invention A5, the attachment / detachment component is surely pushed into the attachment portion as compared with the case of not having the configuration of the invention, and the opening-side end of the attachment / detachment component Is more restrained from coming into contact with the holding portion of the opening / closing member in an unexpected state and stopping.

  According to the opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism of the invention A6, as compared with the case of not having the structure of the invention, the end on the opening side of the attachment / detachment component can be pushed in the pushing direction and the pushing direction by the pressing means having a simple structure. it can.

  According to the opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism of the invention A7, the displacing means operates only when necessary in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing member and contributes to a good attachment of the attachment / detachment component, and does not operate when unnecessary and is attached / detached. It does not interfere with the work of installing the product.

  According to the opening / closing mechanism of the invention A8, the displacing means can be realized with a simple configuration as compared with the case without the configuration of the invention.

  According to the opening / closing mechanism of the invention A9, it is prevented that the pressing member in the pressing means deviates from the moving range of the pressed member and the original pressing force is not exhibited.

  According to the opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism of the invention A10, together with the attachment / detachment work of the attachment / detachment component, it is possible to switch to a state where power can be supplied to the power-supplied component in the attachment / detachment component.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the invention B1, an image forming apparatus provided with the opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism of any of the inventions A1 to A10 can be provided.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a part inside the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1 (a part inside an inner door). FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a mounting unit in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a part of a configuration of a mounting portion in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of an image forming unit mounted on a mounting unit in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1 and a holding unit provided on an inner door of the opening / closing mechanism. It is a perspective view which shows the state of the external appearance of an image formation unit. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the state by which the several image-forming unit (bearing of a photoconductive drum) when it mounts | wears with a mounting part is hold | maintained at the holding part. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the inner side door and displacement device in an opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism. It is a principal part perspective view which shows a part of structure of the press apparatus and the displacement apparatus in the edge part by the side of the apparatus front of an image forming unit. It is a perspective view which shows each structure in an inner side door. It is a figure which shows the state by the side of the back surface of the displacement apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows an internal structure when the inner wall face in the displacement apparatus of FIG. 12 is removed. It is explanatory drawing which shows the attachment structure of the contact rod in a displacement apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows the state of the moving plate in a displacement apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows a state when a contact stick is displaced to a retracted position in a displacement apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows a state when a contact rod is displaced to an operation position in a displacement apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of operation | movement of the press apparatus and the displacement apparatus in the middle of closing an inner side door. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of operation | movement of a press apparatus and a displacement apparatus when the inner side door of FIG. 18 is further closed. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of operation | movement of a press apparatus and a displacement apparatus when an inner side door is closed completely. It is a principal part perspective view which shows the other structural example of a press apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of operation | movement of the said press apparatus etc. in the middle of closing an inner door in the case of applying the press apparatus of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of operation | movement of the said press apparatus etc. when the inner side door of FIG. 22 is further closed in the case of applying the press apparatus of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of operation | movement of a pressing device etc. when an inner side door is closed completely in the case of applying the pressing device of FIG. It is a principal part perspective view which shows the other structural example of a press apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of operation | movement of the said press apparatus etc. when the inner side door of FIG. 25 is further closed in the case of applying the press apparatus of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of operation | movement of a pressing device etc. when an inner side door is completely closed in the case of applying the pressing device of FIG.

  Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter simply referred to as “embodiments”) will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows the appearance of an image forming apparatus provided with the opening / closing mechanism according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 shows the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus.

  The image forming apparatus has a casing 1 as an apparatus main body, and four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are located at almost the center position inside the casing 1. Four image forming units 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K that respectively form developer (toner) images are arranged in series at a required interval (for example, the same interval).

  The housing 1 is composed of a plurality of structural members such as a skeleton member, a plate material, and an exterior material, and the appearance is formed in a shape (box shape) similar to a box shape. The housing 1 is formed with a discharge portion 11 for accommodating a recording medium on which an image is formed on the upper surface portion, and an openable / closable outer door 12 is provided on one side surface portion thereof.

  Each of the four image forming units 2 (Y, M, C, K) includes a photosensitive drum 21, a charging device 22, a developing device 23, a drum cleaning device 24, and the like. Each of the four image forming units 2 (Y, M, C, K) is configured as an attachment / detachment unit in which the photosensitive drum 21, the charging device 22, the developing device 23, and the drum cleaning device 24 are integrated. Thus, it is configured so that it can be detachably mounted on the housing 1 (mounting portion thereof).

  At a position below the image forming unit 2 (Y, M, C, K) inside the housing 1, light L (LY, LM) corresponding to the image signal of each color component on the surface of the charged photosensitive drum 21. , LC, LK) is arranged to form an electrostatic latent image. For example, the exposure device 25 scans the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 through a light source such as a semiconductor laser and light emitted from the light source according to an image signal inside the housing through optical components such as a polygon mirror and a lens. And an optical scanning device for exposure. The casing of the exposure device 25 is provided with a light exit window that emits the light L toward the respective photosensitive drums 21. Further, an image signal is transmitted to the exposure device 25 from an image processing device (including an image input device) (not shown).

  In each of the image forming units 2 (Y, M, C, K), when a request for image formation is received, the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 that is rotated by transmission of power from a driving device (not shown) is charged by the charging roller 22. After being charged to a potential, the surface of the charged photosensitive drum 21 is irradiated with light L (LY, LM, LC, LK) corresponding to the image signal of each color component from the exposure device 25, and the electrostatic latent of each color component is irradiated. Form an image. Subsequently, the electrostatic latent image of each color component formed on the surface of each photosensitive drum 21 is converted into the four colors (Y, M, C, K) in the corresponding developing device 23 (Y, M, C, K). The four color toner images are formed by developing with the developer of any one of the above.

  The developing device 23 agitates and charges the developer (for example, two-component developer) of the color to be accommodated by the agitating / conveying member and then holds the developer on the developing roll 26, and the developing roll 26 holds the developer on the photosensitive drum 21. It is conveyed so as to pass through the developing area facing it. A developing voltage is applied to the developing roll 26 from a power supply device (not shown). Further, in the developing device 23 (Y, M, C, K), a cartridge type developer storage container 48 (Y, M, C, K) that is detachably mounted at an upper position inside the housing 10 is mounted. The four color developers respectively accommodated are individually replenished through a replenishment transport device (not shown).

  Further, a recording sheet as a recording medium after the toner image formed by each image forming unit 20 is primarily transferred to a position above the image forming unit 2 (Y, M, C, K) inside the housing 1. An intermediate transfer device 3 that conveys to a secondary transfer position for secondary transfer to P is arranged. The intermediate transfer device 3 is disposed inside the intermediate transfer belt 31 and an endless intermediate transfer belt 31 that can hold a toner image by electrostatic action, and each image forming unit 2 (Y, M, C, K). A primary transfer roll 32 for primary transfer of the toner images to the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 31, and a secondary transfer roll 33 for secondary transfer of the toner image primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 31 to the recording paper P. ing. As will be described later, the intermediate transfer device 3 is detachably attached to the housing 1 (attachment portion thereof).

  The intermediate transfer belt 31 is disposed to face the secondary transfer roll 33 with the intermediate transfer belt 31 interposed between the driving roll 34 that transmits the rotational force to the intermediate transfer belt 31, the tension applying roll 35 that applies tension to the intermediate transfer belt 31, and the intermediate transfer belt 31. It is wound around a support roll such as the backup roll 36 to be rotated, and rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow. The primary transfer roll 32 is disposed to face the photosensitive drum 21 (Y, M, C, K) of each image forming unit 2 (Y, M, C, K) with the intermediate transfer belt 31 interposed therebetween. A required primary transfer voltage is applied from a power supply device (not shown). A required secondary transfer voltage is applied to the secondary transfer roll 33 from a power supply device (not shown). Reference numeral 37 in FIG. 2 denotes a belt cleaning device that removes deposits such as toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 31.

  In the intermediate transfer device 3, each color toner image formed by the image forming unit 2 (Y, M, C, K) is aligned with the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 31 by the primary transfer roll 32 during image formation. In this state, the primary transfer is performed sequentially. The intermediate transfer belt 31 conveys the primary transferred toner image to the secondary transfer position where the secondary transfer roll 33 faces. At this time, in the image forming unit 2 (Y, M, C, K), the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 after the primary transfer is cleaned by the drum cleaning device 24.

  Further, a paper feeding device 40 in which the recording paper P is accommodated is disposed at a position below the exposure device 25 inside the housing 1. The paper feeding device 40 is attached to the housing 10 so that it can be pulled out, and stores a recording paper P having a desired size, type, and the like, and a recording paper P from the paper storage body 41. A delivery device 42 for feeding out one sheet at a time is provided. In the paper feeding device 40, when it is time to form an image, the required recording paper P is sent out one by one from the paper container 41 by the sending device 42.

  The recording paper P sent out from the paper feeding device 40 is transported and sent at a required timing toward a secondary transfer position in the intermediate transfer device 3 through a transport path Rt1 constituted by a pair of paper transport rolls 43, a transport guide, and the like. It is. At the secondary transfer position, the toner image primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 31 is secondarily transferred to the recording paper P. At this time, in the intermediate transfer device 3, the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 31 after the secondary transfer is cleaned by the belt cleaning device 37.

  Further, a fixing device 45 is disposed at a position above the secondary transfer roll 33 inside the housing 1. The fixing device 45 is driven to rotate inside a casing in a required direction and the surface temperature of the fixing device 45 is heated to a required temperature by a heating unit and held in a roll form, a belt form, etc. A pressurizing rotary body 47 such as a roll form or a belt form that contacts and rotates with a required pressure so as to substantially follow the rotation axis direction of the rotary body 46 is installed.

  The recording paper P on which the toner image is transferred at the secondary transfer position is sent between the heating rotator 46 and the pressure rotator 47 of the fixing device 45 and is heated and pressurized, whereby the toner image is transferred. It is fixed on the recording paper P. After fixing, the recording paper P is carried out of the casing 1 through a conveyance path Rt2 constituted by a pair of paper conveyance rolls 44, a conveyance guide, and the like, and finally discharged to the discharge unit 11 and stored.

  In this image forming apparatus, all or a part of the four color developers Y, M, C, and K are selected by operating all or part of the image forming unit 2 (Y, M, C, K). A color image formed by combining these can be formed. In addition to this, it is also possible to form a monochromatic image composed of one color developer such as black.

  In this image forming apparatus, four image forming units 2 (Y, M, C, K) and an intermediate transfer device 3 are detachably attached to the housing 1. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the housing 1 is provided with mounting portions 5 (Y, M, C, K) for detachably mounting four image forming units 2 (Y, M, C, K). C, K) and a mounting portion 50 for detachably mounting the intermediate transfer device 3 is provided.

  Since the image forming apparatus employs a mounting structure in which some components such as the image forming unit 2 and the intermediate transfer device 3 as well as the developer storage container 48 are detachable, as shown in FIG. When the outer door 12 is opened, one end of the developer container 48 (Y, M, C, K) is exposed to the outside, and the image forming unit 2 (Y, M, C, K) and the intermediate transfer are exposed. An inner door 14 that opens and closes an opening 13 through which the apparatus 3 is attached and detached is formed so as to be exposed to the outside. By operating the opening / closing operation lever 17, the inner door 14 swings in the directions indicated by arrows B 1 and B 2 around the hinge 18 disposed below the inner door 14 to open and close.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus includes a housing 1 in which a mounting portion 5 to which the image forming unit 2 is mounted is formed, the inner door 14, a holding groove 55 a described later provided in the inner door 14, and the mounting portion 5. When the image forming unit 2 is attached to or detached from the mounting portion 5, a pressing device 6 to be described later that applies a pressing force to press each image forming unit 2 in a specific direction when the image forming unit 2 is mounted on the mounting unit 5. An opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism having a displacement device 7 to be described later that applies a displacement force to displace at least the end portion 20b on the front side of the device in a direction away from the holding groove portion 55a in the inner door 14 is provided.

  Here, FIG. 3 shows a state when the image forming unit 2 and the intermediate transfer device 3 are respectively mounted on the mounting portions 5 and 50 when the inner door 14 is opened. FIG. 4 shows the state (mounting space) of the mounting portions 5 and 50 when the image forming unit 2 and the intermediate transfer device 3 are removed in a state where the inner door 14 is opened. Reference numeral 15 in FIGS. 1, 3, etc. denotes a partition plate constituting a part of the housing 1, in which the opening 13 is formed and an inner door 14 is attached.

  The mounting portion 5 (Y, M, C, K) for the image forming unit 2 includes a support plate 51 that supports each image forming unit 2 (Y, M, C, K) as shown in FIG. Yes. The support plate 51 in this embodiment includes four support plates 51 (Y, M, C, and K) that support the image forming units 2 (Y, M, C, and K), respectively. Corresponding to the arrangement state of the unit 2, it is arranged in a state where the height in the vertical direction (direction along the arrow Y) is sequentially arranged in different steps. The image forming units 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K are attached to the support plates 51M, 51C, and 51K at lower positions gradually from the support plate 51Y at the higher position in this order. Since FIG. 5 shows a state where the image forming unit 2Y is mounted, the support plate 51Y that supports the image forming unit 2Y is hidden behind the image forming unit 2Y and does not appear in the drawing. 5 shows a state in which only the developing device 23M of the image forming unit 2M mounted at the position adjacent to the image forming unit 2Y is detached and mounted for convenience.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, the mounting unit 5 is provided on the housing 1 installed in a state along the vertical direction (arrow Y direction) on the back side of the apparatus, which is the downstream side in the mounting direction A1 of the image forming unit 2. V-shaped holding each bearing (bearing member) as a held portion, which will be described later, disposed on the end of the image forming unit 2 (Y, M, C, K) on the back side of the apparatus. A holding plate 53 having a holding groove 52 (Y, M, C, K) is attached. The holding grooves 52 are formed so as to be arranged at an interval equal to the interval between the image forming units 2 when they are mounted. The holding groove 52 is set at a position that maintains the height at which the held portion of the image forming unit 2 should be held when the holding groove 52 is mounted on the support plate 51 of the mounting portion 5. Further, the partition plate 16 is configured by a plate spring or the like that presses a bearing (27) as a held portion of each image forming unit 2 fitted into each holding groove 52 of the holding plate 53 toward each holding groove 52. Four pressing members 54 to be used are attached.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the mounting portion 5 is provided on the inner surface side of the inner door 14 on the end portion on the front side of the apparatus, which is the upstream side in the attachment direction A1 of the image forming unit 2 (downstream side in the removal direction A2). A holding plate 56 having holding holes 55 (Y, M, C, K) having V-shaped holding groove portions 55a for holding bearings (bearing members), which will be described later, as arranged held portions is attached. . The holding groove portions 55a are formed so as to be arranged at an interval equal to the interval between the image forming units 2 when they are mounted. The holding groove portion 55a may be either formed integrally with the holding plate 56 or formed with another member.

  In FIG. 6 and the like, reference numeral 57 denotes a holding hole in which one end portion (bearing portion) of the backup roll 36 in the intermediate transfer device 3 is fitted and held when the inner door 14 is closed. 6 and the like, reference numeral 58 denotes a guide pin 58 provided on each support plate 51 (Y, M, C, K) of the mounting portion 5 so as to protrude upward from the upper surface thereof. The guide pins 58 are composed of a plurality of (for example, three) pins, and are arranged in a line along the direction of movement when the image forming unit 2 is attached or detached (the direction indicated by the double arrow A). Is done. The moving direction A when the image forming unit 2 is attached / detached is substantially along the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 21.

  On the other hand, the image forming unit 2 (Y, M, C, K) mounted on the mounting portion 5 (Y, M, C, K) can freely rotate the shaft 21a of the photosensitive drum 21 as shown in FIG. An annular bearing (bearing member) 27 to be supported on the end 20a on the downstream side (device rear side) in the mounting direction A1 of the image forming unit and the end on the downstream side (front side of the device) in the drawing direction A2 It has attached in the state which protruded outside from the part 20b. The bearing 27 has an outer circumferential surface (outermost circumferential surface) portion 27a formed as a cylindrical outer circumferential surface. Further, the outer end portion (corner portion) 27b of the outer peripheral surface portion 27a is inclined so that the outer peripheral surface portion 27a is guided and held in the holding grooves 61 and 63 of the holding plates 62 and 64. It is formed as.

  In FIG. 7, reference numeral 28 indicates a state where the image forming unit 2 rotates (swings) about the shaft 21 a (bearing 27) of the photosensitive drum 21 when the image forming unit 2 is held and mounted in the holding grooves 52 and 55. The rotation prevention protrusion for preventing is shown. Reference numeral 29 denotes a guide groove in which the guide pin 58 in the support plate 51 of the mounting portion 5 enters and is guided to the guide pin 58 when the image forming unit 2 is attached or detached. The guide groove 29 is formed as a groove extending linearly along the moving direction A of the image forming unit 2 in the bottom surface material 20 c constituting the bottom of each image forming unit 2. Reference numeral 29a denotes an introduction portion formed in a shape in which the width of the groove is widened to invite the guide pin 58, and reference numeral 29b denotes the guide pin 58 at the stage where the image forming unit 2 is attached to the attachment position of the attachment portion 5. This is a notch portion that is large enough to allow the guide pin 58 to pass therethrough.

  When the four image forming units 2 (Y, M, C, K) are mounted on the mounting portion 5, as schematically shown in FIG. 8, in each of the photosensitive drums 21 (Y, M, C, K). Two bearings 27 located on the rear side and the front side of the device are arranged in the holding grooves 52 (Y, M, C, K) in the holding plate 53 arranged on the rear side of the device and the inner door 14 on the front side of the device. The holding grooves 56a (Y, M, C, K) of the holding plate 56 are held respectively. As a result, each photosensitive drum 21 (Y, M, C, K) and thus each image forming unit 2 (Y, M, C, K) on which the photosensitive drum 21 is mounted have a required interval (L1, L2). , L3).

  In this image forming apparatus, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the apparatus of each image forming unit 2 (Y, M, C, K) when mounted on the mounting portion 5 on the inner door 14. Pressing force Fp (FIG. 20) and holding that presses each image forming unit 2 in the direction in which the image forming unit 2 is pushed into the back side of the mounting portion 5 (a direction substantially along the mounting direction A1) in contact with a part of the front end portion 20b. A pressing device that applies a pressing force Fd (FIG. 20) to the end 20b of each image forming unit 2 in a direction (gravity direction: a direction substantially along the direction of arrow Y) to press the holding groove 55a in the holding hole 55 of the plate 56. 6 is provided.

  The pressing device 6 is provided at each of a plurality of protruding rods 61 provided on the inner surface side of the inner door 14 and an end portion 20b on the front side of each image forming unit 2 (Y, M, C, K). It is comprised with the to-be-pressed body 62 which the front-end | tip part of each protrusion stick | rod 61 contacts with the operation | movement at the time of closing.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, the protruding rod 61 is formed, for example, in a cylindrical shape with a rounded tip. For example, as shown in FIG. 18 and the like, the projecting rod 61 in the present embodiment has a rear end portion 61b accommodated in the internal space of the cylindrical holding member 80 and can be displaced along the longitudinal direction of the projecting rod. While being supported, one end of the inner door 14 is held in a state of being elastically pushed in the direction of the distal end portion 61a by a coil spring 81 fixed and attached to the main body of the inner door 14 (or the bottom surface portion of the holding member 80). Yes. The projecting bar 61 is formed in a state of projecting to a position farther below the holding holes 55 in the holding plate 56 of the inner door 14. Conditions such as the shape, dimensions, and installation position of the protruding rod 61 are selected in relation to the pressed body 62. Further, the protruding rod 61 is formed as a separate body from the holding plate 56, but may be formed as a part (integral) of the holding plate 56. In FIG. 11 and the like, reference numerals 14a and 14b denote a state in which when the inner door 14 is closed, the inner door 14 is fixed in a closed state by being hooked by a not-shown stopper formed in the housing 1. It is a stop. The stoppers 14 a and 14 b are displaced to a position where the stopper state is released in conjunction with the operation of the opening / closing operation lever 17.

  As shown in FIG. 10 and the like, the pressed body 62 has the pressing force Fp in the pressing direction and the pressing force in the pressing direction as a result of the tip portion of the protruding rod 61 coming into contact with the operation when the inner door 14 is closed. The structure includes a contact surface 63 having a shape capable of generating Fd. As shown in FIG. 10, the contact surface 63 of the pressed body 62 in this embodiment is an inclined surface (horizontal direction: arrow) that rises as it shifts to the back side of the apparatus, which is the downstream side in the mounting direction A1 of the image forming unit 2. It is formed as an inclined surface formed at a required inclination angle (elevation angle) with respect to the X or Z direction.

  Further, the pressed body 62 is formed at a position farther downward than the bearing 27 protruding from the end 20 b of the image forming unit 2. When the inner door 14 is closed, the pressed body 62 is disposed so as to satisfy a positional relationship in which the protruding bar 61 on the inner door 14 side can come into contact with the contact surface 63. Further, the pressed body 62 is formed as a separate member from the side member of the end portion 20b of the image forming unit 2, but may be formed as a part (one piece) of the side member.

  Furthermore, in this image forming apparatus, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 12 to 14, when each image forming unit 2 is attached to and detached from the mounting portion 5, at least the front side of each image forming unit 2. Displacement device 7 is provided that applies a displacement force to displace end portion 20b (bearing 27) of the inner door 14 in a direction away from holding hole 55 (holding groove portion 55a) of inner door 14.

  Here, the direction in which the displacement force is separated is a direction in which the bearing 27 at the end 20b of the image forming unit 2 can at least avoid contact with the holding hole 55 (including the holding groove 55a). Specifically, for example, when the image forming unit 2 including the bearing 27 is held in the holding groove 55a of the holding hole 55 by its own weight, the direction is set in the direction opposite to the direction of gravity at that time.

  As shown in FIGS. 9, 12, 13, etc., the displacement device 7 is mounted at a position on the front side of the support plate 51 in the mounting portion 5 and on the inner side of the inner door 14. The image forming unit 2 mounted on the unit 5 (the support plate 51) is disposed so as to exist almost directly below the end 20b on the front side of the apparatus.

  The displacement device 7 has four upper surface portions 71 (Y, M, C, K) arranged in steps so as to be connected to the four support plates 51 (Y, M, C, K) in the mounting portion 5, respectively. An apparatus main body 70 is provided. Further, the displacement device 7 comes in and out of two openings 71a formed in each upper surface portion 71 of the device main body 70 and comes into contact with the bottom surface portions 20d and 20e of the end portion 20b on the front side of each image forming unit 2. The four pairs of contact rods 72A, 72B (Y, M, C, K) for displacing the end portion 20b in the direction away from the holding groove portion 55a, and the contact rods 72A, 72B on the respective upper surfaces of the apparatus main body 70 A moving mechanism 73 that moves so as to appear and disappear in the portion 71 is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 9, 12, 13 and the like, the apparatus main body 70 in the displacement device 7 is disposed on the front side of the apparatus, and has a main body portion 70A having an outer wall surface and an upper surface portion 71, and the main body portion 70A. And an inner wall plate 70B that covers and closes the inside of the main body 70A.

  As shown in FIGS. 13 to 15 and the like, the contact rod 72 has a shape in which a distal end portion 72a has a rounded main body portion 71b and a base end portion thereof has a large diameter portion 72c. The contact bar 72 is vertically moved so that the front end portion 72 a of the main body portion protrudes from the upper surface portion 71 inside the partition space-like mounting portion 74 formed below the opening 71 a in each upper surface portion 71 of the apparatus main body 70. It is attached in a state where it can move up and down along the direction (direction along arrow Y) C.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 14, the contact rod 72 is partially fitted into a guide groove 74b of a support portion 74a with a guide groove formed on the upper side in the partition space of the mounting portion 74. The front end portion 72a is attached in a state of being inserted into the opening 71a of the upper surface portion 71 while being supported so as to be displaceable in the vertical direction C1 and C2. In addition, the contact rod 72 has one end portion installed on the bottom surface portion 74d of the moving space 74c in which the large-diameter portion 72c of the base end portion is formed below the support portion 74a with the guide groove of the mounting portion 74. The coil spring 75 is attached in a state in which the distal end portion 72a of the main body portion 72b is elastically pressed toward the upward direction (C1) that protrudes from the opening 71a of the upper surface portion 71. The coil spring 75 also constitutes a part of the moving mechanism 73.

  The moving mechanism 73 displaces the four pairs of contact rods 72A, B (Y, M, C, K) in contact with the bottom surface portions 20d, 20e of the end portion 20b on the front side of each image forming unit 2. The operating position to be moved and the retracted position not contacting the bottom surface portions 20d and 20e of the end portion 20b are moved.

  In the moving mechanism 73 in this embodiment, the contact rod 72 protrudes from the opening 71a on the upper surface portion and contacts the bottom surface portions 20d and 20e of the end portion 20b of the image forming unit 2, and is elastically moved upward C1 by the coil spring 75. The position where the contact bar 72 is kept pressed is referred to as the “operation position”, and the position where the contact bar 72 is kept immersed in the opening 71a on the upper surface portion is referred to as the “retraction position”. Therefore, the moving mechanism 73 includes a moving plate 76 that displaces each contact rod 72 attached to each attaching portion 73 of the apparatus main body 70 to an operating position and a retracted position, and a drive member 77 that moves the moving plate 76. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the moving plate 76 is attached so as to move in the vertical direction C with respect to the inside of the main body 70 </ b> A of the apparatus main body 70. The moving plate 76 is inserted and held from the upper surface side of the large-diameter portion 72c into the main body portion 72b of each contact rod 72 at a position corresponding to the arrangement position of the four pairs of contact rods 72A, B in the upper portion. A plurality of grooved holding pieces 78 projecting upward are formed. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the grooved holding piece 78 of the moving plate 76 is positioned below the guide grooved support portion 74a in the attachment portion 74 of each contact rod of the main body portion 70A. 72 is attached in a state of being hooked on the large-diameter portion 72c of 72. In addition, the movable plate 76 is formed with opening protrusions 79 having openings at two lower portions thereof. The opening protrusion 79 is used with the one end 77 a of the driving member 77 entering.

  The drive member 77 is a prismatic member, and as shown in FIGS. 13, 16, etc., the two opening protrusions 79 at the lower part of the moving plate 76 when attached to the main body portion 70A of the apparatus main body 70 are respectively positioned. The opening portion 70c formed in the portion is provided so as to swing around a support shaft 77c along a direction (in the direction of arrow A) substantially orthogonal to the moving direction A when the image forming unit 2 is mounted. Further, the drive member 77 is arranged so that one end portion 77 a thereof exists in the opening of the opening projection 79 of the moving plate 76, while the other end portion 77 b is inside the through-hole 79 and the hinge portion 18 of the inner door 14. It arrange | positions in the state which contacts the protrusion piece 19 (refer FIG. 9, FIG. 11) fixedly formed in. The protruding piece 19 of the inner door 14 swings around the support shaft 18a of the hinge portion 18, and the swing directions B1 and B2 when the inner door 14 opens and closes and the same direction (B1, Displace to move to B2).

  In the drive member 77 in this embodiment, the length from the support shaft 77c of the one end 77a located on the movable plate 76 side is the length from the support shaft 77c of the other end 77b located on the inner door 14 side. When the external force is not applied, the dimension is set so as to be in contact with the opening bottom of the opening projection 79 of the moving plate 76. The drive member 77 swings around the support shaft 70d within the penetrating portion 70c according to the position of the protruding piece 19 that is displaced by the opening / closing operation of the inner door 14, and one end portion 77a of the driving member 77 is an opening of the moving plate 76. The movement of the moving plate 76 in the vertical direction C is switched by contacting the projection 79.

  When the inner door 14 is opened, the displacement device 7 including the contact bar 72 and the moving mechanism 73 has a lower portion of the inner door 14 that swings in the direction of the arrow B1, as shown in FIG. Since the certain protruding piece 19 is displaced so as to come into contact with the lower portion of the other end 77b of the driving member 77 and lift from the lower side, the driving member 77 swings in the direction indicated by the arrow about the support shaft 77c. . Thereby, the one end 77a of the driving member 77 moves the moving plate 76 in the downward direction C2 through the opening protrusion 79 by a required distance. Due to the downward movement of the moving plate 76, the contact rod 72 held by the holding piece 78 of the moving plate 76 is moved in the downward direction C2 against the pressing force of the coil spring 75, and the tip 72a thereof is moved. It will be in the state immersed in the opening 71a of the upper surface part 71. FIG. As a result, the contact bar 72 is displaced to the retracted position where it does not contact the bottom surface portion 20d (20e) of the image forming unit 2.

  At this time, the end portion 20b on the front side of the image forming unit 2 is placed on the support plate 51 of the mounting portion 5 as illustrated in FIG. In the drawing, reference numeral 55b schematically shows a portion where the annular bearing 27 is held in contact with the V-shaped holding groove 55a so as to be at the bottom of the bearing 27 for convenience ( The same applies to reference numeral 55b in FIG.

  On the other hand, in the displacement device 7, when the inner door 14 is opened, the protruding piece 19 at the lower portion of the inner door 14 that swings in the direction of arrow B 2 is shown in FIG. Since it displaces to the state which does not contact the other end part 77b, the drive member 77 will be in the state which external force does not apply. As a result, the one end 77a of the drive member 77 does not move the moving plate 76 in the downward direction C2 via the opening projection 79, so the moving plate 75 also moves the contact rod 72 in the downward direction C2 via the holding portion 77. Does not generate force to move to. For this reason, the contact bar 72 is moved in the upward direction C <b> 1 by freely receiving the pressing force Fu of the coil spring 75, and its tip end portion 72 a protrudes upward from the opening 71 a of the upper surface portion 71. . As a result, the contact rods 72A and 72B are displaced to the operating positions where they come into contact with the bottom surface portions 20d and 20e of the image forming unit 2 to displace the end 20b of the image forming unit in the upward direction C1, respectively.

  At this time, the end 20b on the front side of the image forming unit 2 is slightly lifted from the support plate 51 of the mounting portion 5 by a displacement force from the contact rod 72 and floats as illustrated in FIG. Therefore, the bearing 27 protruding from the end 20b is also lifted away from the holding groove 55a (contact holding portion 55b) of the holding hole 55 in the inner door 14 in the upward direction C2.

  When the displacement device 7 displaces the end 20b on the front side of the image forming unit 2 in the direction away from the holding groove 55a in the inner door 14, the holding groove 55a is held at the end 20b of the image forming unit 2. Is set to a time before holding the bearing 27 as a portion and before the protrusion 61 of the pressing device 6 contacts the pressed body 62 at the end 20b of the image forming unit 2. . The setting (adjustment) of the timing of displacement is, for example, that the image forming unit 2 is displaced at the same time that the projecting piece 19 at the lower part of the inner door 14 and the driving member 77 come into contact with each other and the inner door 14 starts to close. This is done by adjusting the time when possible.

  When the pressing device 6 and the displacement device 7 are closed until the inner door 14 is in a state of closing the opening 13, the bearing 27 at the end 20b of the image forming unit 2 by the pressing device 6 is V-shaped. The pressing force Fd in the direction of pressing against the holding groove 55a is larger than the pressing force (displacement force) Fu of the coil spring 75 that displaces the end 20b of the image forming unit 2 away from the holding groove 55a by the displacement device 7. The relationship is set (Fd> Fu).

  When the magnitude relationship between the two forces Fd and Fu is equal or opposite when the inner door 14 is closed (Fd ≦ Fu), the end 20b of the image forming unit 2 after being mounted. The bearing 27 is not stably pressed against the holding groove 55a, and in the worst case, the bearing 27 is lifted from the holding groove 55a. The setting of these two forces Fd and Fu includes, for example, conditions such as the spring constant of the coil springs 81 of the plurality of protruding rods 61 in the pressing device 6, conditions such as the inclined surface 63 of the pressed body 62 in the pressing device 6, and the like. This is done by changing conditions such as the spring constant of the coil spring 75 in the displacement device 7.

  Hereinafter, an operation when the image forming unit 2 (Y, M, C, K) is mounted on the mounting portion 5 and a state when the image forming unit 2 (Y, M, C, K) is mounted will be described.

  First, when the image forming unit 2 is mounted on the mounting portion 5, the outer door 12 and the inner door 14 of the housing 1 are opened, and the mounting portion 5 (Y, M) of the image forming unit 2 is opened as shown in FIG. , C, K) are exposed to the outside through the opening 13. Next, the image forming unit 2 is held with the end portion 20a on the downstream side in the mounting direction A1 at the top, and the predetermined support plate 51 (Y, M, C, and K) are pushed so as to move in the direction of arrow A1 (attachment direction).

  At this time, in the image forming unit 2, the three guide pins 58 on the support plate 51 enter in order into the guide groove 29 on the bottom surface member 20c (see FIG. 7), so that the guide groove 29 moves in the moving direction. Since it is guided while being regulated by the three guide pins 58 arranged in a line along A, the entire image forming unit 2 moves on the support plate 51 along the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 21. At this time, the image forming unit 2 is in a state in which the bottom plate 20c is in contact with the support plate 51, and the guide groove 58 is in a state in which the traveling direction is restricted by the three guide pins 58, and as a result, moves. The posture (physical posture) is kept almost constant.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 8, the image forming unit 2 moved on the support plate 51 in the mounting direction A1 finally has a circular shape of the photosensitive drum 21 protruding from the end 20a on the back side of the apparatus. After the annular bearing 27 rides on the holding groove 52 of the holding plate 53 arranged on the back side of the apparatus with the inclined surface 27b as a trigger, the outer peripheral surface portion 27a is opposed to the inclined side portion in the V-shaped holding groove 52. Thus, the holding groove 52 is held in contact with the holding groove 52 at two points (one point on each of the two inclined sides).

  Further, the bearing 27 when being held in the holding groove 52 of the holding plate 53 is pressed with a required pressure toward the lower direction (gravity direction) by the pressing member 53 at the upper end portion thereof. In addition, the drive transmission coupling attached to the portion of the rotating shaft 21a of the photosensitive drum 21 that is closer to the end than the bearing 27 is coupled to a rotary drive side coupling (not shown). At this time, for example, the image forming unit 2 is engaged by engaging a latch (not shown) provided on the bottom surface of the unit 2 with an opening (or recess) (not shown) formed on the top surface of the apparatus main body 70 of the displacement device 7. By doing so, the movement in the mounting direction A1 is stopped.

  On the other hand, after the image forming unit 2 is pushed to the mounting position of the mounting portion 5 and stops in the above-described states, the inner door 14 is closed. By closing the inner door 14 completely, finally, as shown in FIG. 20, a holding hole 55 formed in the holding plate 56 on the inner surface side of the inner door 14 is inserted in front of the image forming unit 2. The bearing 27 at the side end 20b is held.

  First, as shown in FIG. 18, the inner door 14 is swung in the direction of the arrow B1 about the support shaft 18a of the hinge portion 18 and begins to close. At this time, as shown in FIG. 17, the projecting piece 19 on the lower side of the inner door 14 is in a final contact state with the end portion 77 b of the driving member 77 of the displacement device 7 (for example, a state shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 17). ), The contact rods 72A and 72B of the displacement device 7 receive the pressing force Fu of the coil spring 75 to lift the end 20b of the image forming unit 2 in the upward direction C1 as described above. It is displaced to.

  As a result, the bearing 27 at the end 20b of the image forming unit 2 is displaced to a position away from the holding groove 55a (contact holding portion 55b) of the holding hole in the inner door 14 by a required distance α as shown in FIG. You are put in a state of being let down. Strictly speaking, the final contact state is a state of being in contact with the end 77b of the driving member when the moving plate 76 starts to move downward.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 19, when the inner door 14 is further closed (a state before the fully closed state), the protruding bar constituting the pressing device 6 disposed on the inner door 14. The front end portion 61a of the 61 comes into contact with the inclined surface 63 of the pressed body 62 constituting the pressing device 6 disposed on the side surface portion of the end portion 20b of the image forming unit 2. When the protruding bar 61 comes into contact with the inclined surface 63 of the pressed body 62 and then swings in the direction in which the inner door 14 is closed, the tip 61a of the protruding bar 61 is inclined to the pressed body 62 as shown in FIG. A state in which a pressing force F0 in a direction substantially along the attachment direction A1 is started to be applied to the image forming unit 2 via the surface 63 is obtained.

  In the state where the pressing force F0 starts to be applied, the bearing 27 at the end 20b of the image forming unit 2 is displaced in the direction away from the holding groove 55a by the displacement device 7 (contact rods 72A and 72B) as described above. It is in the state that was.

  Further, the pressing force F0 at this time swings in the direction of the arrow B1 around the support shaft 18a of the inner door 14 when it is assumed that the end 20b of the image forming unit 2 is stationary without receiving external force. It is generated in a direction that is generally determined by the circular orbit drawn by the tip of the protruding rod 61 when it is made and the inclination angle element of the inclined surface 63 when the tip 61a of the protruding rod 61 contacts. With respect to this pressing force F0, as shown in FIG. 19, the component force fp of the component along the mounting direction (pushing direction) A1 of the image forming unit 2 and the end 20b of the image forming unit 2 are placed below the bearing 27. It can be decomposed into a component force fd of a component along the direction (downward) C2 to be pressed against the existing holding groove 55a. At this stage, the coil spring 81 of the protruding rod 61 is not compressed, and the protruding rod 61 is not pushed into the internal space of the holding member 80 (FIG. 19).

  The pressing force F0 at this time has a relationship in which the component force fd is smaller than the pressing force Fu of the coil spring 75 at the contact rods 72A and 72B (fd <Fu). Thus, the protruding rod 61 pushes the image forming unit 2 toward the mounting position of the mounting portion 5 before pressing the end portion 20b of the image forming unit 2 toward the holding groove portion 55a. For this reason, the end 20b of the image forming unit 2 at this time is placed in a separated state without contacting the holding groove 55a.

  As a result, the bearing 27 at the end 20b of the image forming unit 2 is brought into a state of approaching the holding groove 55a of the inner door 14 early, and the possibility of unnecessary contact with the holding groove 55a is avoided. . Further, it is possible to avoid the possibility of coming into contact with an inappropriate portion other than the protruding bar 61 in the pressing device 6 and the inclined surface 63 of the pressed body 62 provided at the end 20b of the image forming unit 2. The symbol Q in FIG. 19 is a line indicating the position when the inner door 14 is completely closed (the inner surface of the door is present), and the symbol θ1 is the remaining (until the line Q) until the inner door 14 is completely closed. The swing angle is shown.

  Finally, when the inner door 14 is completely closed (when the inner door 14 is fixed to the housing 1 by the stoppers 14a and 14b), the tip 61a of the protruding rod 61 in the pressing device 6 is covered. It will be in the state which contacted the inclined surface 63 strongly as if it moved to the direction which raises the inclined surface 63 of the press body 62. As shown in FIG. At this time, the state in which the tip portion 61a of the protruding rod 61 moves in the direction of rising the inclined surface 63 is moved by being pushed in the downward direction C2 by the component force fd in the direction in which the pressed body 62 having the inclined surface 63 is pressed. Is brought about by. Then, when the stoppers 14 a and 14 b of the inner door 14 are fixed to the stoppers of the housing 1, the protruding rod 61 stops at a stage in contact with a part of the inclined surface 63.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 20, the protruding bar 61 gives the required pressing force F <b> 1 as a whole through the inclined surface 63 of the pressed body 62 when the inner door 14 is completely closed. However, the breakdown includes a component force Fp in the direction A1 in which the image forming unit 2 is pushed into the mounting portion 5, and a component force Fd in the direction C2 in which the bearing 27 at the end 20b of the image forming unit 2 is pressed against the holding groove portion 55a. can get. At this stage, the coil spring 81 of the protruding rod 61 is compressed, and the protruding rod 61 is also pushed into the internal space of the holding member 80 by a distance corresponding to the amount compressed by the spring 81 (see FIG. 20). Reference numeral H1 in FIG. 20 indicates that the protruding rod 61 of the pressing device 6 comes into contact with a part of the inclined surface 63 of the pressed body 62 and finally stops when the inner door 14 is completely closed (contact stop). Point) A separation distance between S1 and the center point O of the support shaft 18a of the inner door 14 is shown.

  As a result, the image forming unit 2 is kept in a state where it is pushed into the mounting position of the mounting portion 5 by receiving the component force Fp in the pressing direction A1, while receiving the component force Fd in the pressing direction C2. The bearing 27 at 20 b is kept pressed against the holding groove 55 a of the inner door 14.

  At this time, the end 20b of the image forming unit 2 receives a displacement force Fu by the coil spring 75 that is lifted upward by the contact rods 72A and 72B of the displacement device 7. However, as described above, when the inner door 14 is completely closed, the component force Fd in the pressing direction C2 by the pressing device 6 is set to be larger than the displacement force Fu by the displacement device 7. For this reason, the bearing 27 at the end portion 20b of the image forming unit 2 receives the component force Fd in the pressing direction C2 by the pressing device 6 and is pressed against the holding groove 55a of the inner door 14 to be kept in a stable state. Incidentally, the magnitude of the component force Fd in the pressing direction C2 by the pressing device 6 is substantially determined in consideration of the pressing force Fu of the coil spring 75 at the contact rods 72A and 72B of the displacement device 7.

  Thus, the bearing 27 at the end 20b of the image forming unit 2 is located at a predetermined distance α (FIG. 17) away from the holding groove 55a by the displacement force of the displacement device 7 until the inner door 14 is completely closed. Is displaced. However, when the inner door 14 is completely closed, it is pressed toward the downward direction C2 by the component force (pressing force) Fd in the pressing direction of the pressing device 6 and is kept in contact with the holding groove 55a. Become. As a result, when closing the inner door 14, there is no possibility that the bearing 27 at the end 20b of the image forming unit 2 is held in contact with the holding groove 55a in an abnormal state due to the influence of the pressing force of the pressing device 6, The holding groove 55a can be held in a normal state, and finally the entire image forming unit 2 can be accurately mounted on the mounting portion 5.

  As a result of the above operation, the four image forming units 2 (Y, M, C, K) are mounted on the mounting unit 5. After closing the inner door 14, the outer door 12 is closed. Thereby, the image forming apparatus can shift to an operable state.

  When removing each image forming unit 2 from the mounting portion 5, after first opening the inner door 14, the image forming unit 2 can be taken out by moving the image forming unit 2 from the mounting portion 5 in the direction A <b> 2. .

  In the middle of opening the inner door 14 at this time, as shown in FIG. 16, the protruding piece 19 of the inner door 14 contacts the driving member 77 of the displacement device 7, and the moving plate 76 is moved in the downward direction C2 as described above. Thus, the contact bars 72A and 72B are moved to the retracted position. As a result, the contact rods 72A and 72B are separated from the bottom surface portions 20d and 20e at the end 20b of the image forming unit 2. After this state is reached, the image forming unit 2 is pulled out from the mounting portion 5.

  In the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10 and the like, a protruding portion 64 is provided on an upper portion of the inclined surface 63 of the pressed body 62 in the pressing device 6. The protrusion 64 restricts one end of the range when the tip of the protrusion rod 61 that contacts the inclined surface 63 moves, and stops the upper end of the inclined surface 63 so as not to move any further. It is formed in a protruding state.

  By providing the projecting portion 64, the projecting rod 61 in a state where the inner door 14 is closed and is in contact with a part of the inclined surface 63 of the pressed body 62 and stopped is subjected to some external force and the inclined surface 63 Even if it tries to move further upward, the movement is restrained by contacting the protrusion 64 existing on the upper part of the inclined surface 63. As a result, when the inner door 14 is closed, the protruding rod 61 is prevented from moving to a position that deviates from the moving range on the inclined surface 63 of the pressed body 62.

  In the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment, the image forming unit 2 is mounted with a charging device 22 and a developing device 23 that require power supply such as a charging voltage and a developing voltage. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 13 and the like, the contact rods 72A and 72B in the displacement device 7 can be used as power supply members (terminals) connected to a power supply device (not shown) installed in the housing 1.

  In FIG. 13 and the like, reference numeral 81 denotes a plurality of connection terminals that are connected to a power supply device (wiring terminal) (not shown), and reference numerals 82 and 83 denote electrical wirings that electrically connect the required connection terminals 81 and the contact rod 72 to energize them. It is. For example, the four electric wires 82 are connected to four contact rods 72A (Y, M, C, K), and are required for each charging device 22 in each image forming unit 2 (Y, M, C, K). This is a wiring for supplying a charging voltage. The two electrical wires 83 are connected to the contact rod 72B (K) for the image forming unit 2K, and the remaining one is connected to the contact rod 72B (Y, M, C for the image forming units 2Y, M, C). M, C) and wiring for supplying a required developing voltage to each developing device 23 in each image forming unit 2 (Y, M, C, K). In this case, the bottom surface portions 20d and 20e at the end portion 20b of the image forming unit 2 with which the contact rods 72A and 72B come into contact are formed as electrode plates. Each electrode plate and the charging device 22 and the developing device 23 are electrically connected (wired).

  When the contact rod 72 in the displacement device 7 is used as a power supply member in this way, the contact rods 72A and 72B in the displacement device 7 are electrodes at the end 20b of the image forming unit 2 in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the inner door 14. The state comes into contact with the bottom surfaces 20d and 20e as plates (state when displaced to the operating position: FIG. 17) and does not contact it (state when displaced to the retracted position: FIG. 16). Thus, when the image forming unit 2 is mounted on the mounting portion 5 and the inner door 14 is closed, the charging device 22 and the developing device 23 in the image forming unit 2 can be brought into a state where power can be supplied. Further, when the inner door 14 is opened when the image forming unit 2 is removed from the mounting portion 5, the charging device 22 and the developing device 23 in the image forming unit 2 can be brought into a state in which power cannot be supplied. As a result, it is not necessary to separately provide a dedicated power supply structure (mechanism) for a power-supplied part that requires power supply to the image forming unit 2.

[Other embodiments]
In the image forming apparatus described above, as the pressed body 62 in the pressing device 6, for example, as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, a contact surface 65 configured with a curved surface having a V-shaped (or L-shaped) cross section. It is possible to apply the pressed body 62 in which is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 21 and the like, the contact surface 65 having a V-shaped cross section in the pressed body 62 is formed with a surface portion 65a positioned below as an inclined surface portion having the same conditions as the inclined surface 63 described above. The upper surface portion 65b is formed as a surface that intersects with the lower surface portion (inclined surface portion) 65a in a state substantially orthogonal to the upper surface portion 65b. When the pressed body 62 having the contact surface 65 is applied, the joining portion 65c of the upper and lower surfaces 65a and 65b exists as a depressed shape. For this reason, as shown in FIGS. 22 and 24, the protruding bar 61 in the pressing device 6 has its tip end portion at the junction 65 c of the contact surface 65 when the inner door 14 is completely closed. In order to come into contact with each other and stop, the front end portion of the protruding rod 61 when the inner door 14 is closed is in a state of facing the center portion of the merging portion 65c (with respect to the inner wall plate 56). ) It is installed in a posture facing diagonally downward.

  Hereinafter, an operation when the image forming unit 2 is mounted when the pressed body 62 having the contact surface 65 is applied will be described.

  When the inner door 14 is swung in the closing direction B1 when the image forming unit 2 is attached, the tip portion 61a of the protruding rod 61 constituting the pressing device 6 is moved to the end portion 20b of the image forming unit 2 as shown in FIG. It contacts the surface part 65a below the contact surface 65 of the to-be-pressed body 62 which comprises the press apparatus 6 arrange | positioned at this side part. When the protruding bar 61 is brought into contact with the contact surface 65 of the pressed body 62 and then the inner door 14 is further swung in the closing direction B1, the protruding bar 61 is brought into contact with the contact surface 65 of the pressed body 62 as shown in FIG. In this state, the image forming unit 2 starts to be given a pressing force F0 in the direction substantially along the mounting direction A1 via the lower surface 65a.

  In the state where the pressing force F0 starts to be applied, the bearing 27 at the end 20b of the image forming unit 2 is displaced in the direction away from the holding groove 55a by the displacement device 7 (contact rods 72A and 72B) as described above. (Fig. 17). As for the pressing force F0 at this time, as in the case of the image forming apparatus described above, the component force fd of the component along the pressing direction (downward) C2 is the pressing force of the coil spring 75 on the contact rods 72A and 72B. The relationship is smaller than the pressure Fu (fd <Fu). Thus, the protruding rod 61 pushes the image forming unit 2 toward the mounting position of the mounting portion 5 before pressing the end portion 20b of the image forming unit 2 toward the holding groove portion 55a. For this reason, the end 20b of the image forming unit 2 at this time is placed in a separated state without contacting the holding groove 55a.

  Finally, when the inner door 14 is completely closed, as shown in FIG. 24, the tip 61a of the protruding bar 61 is displaced as if it moves in the direction of ascending the lower surface 65a of the contact surface 65 of the pressed body 62. Then, it reaches the joining portion 65c and comes into contact with the upper surface 65b, so that it is in strong contact as a whole. When the stoppers 14a and 14b of the inner door 14 are fixed to the stoppers of the housing 1, the tip 61a of the protruding bar 61 is also aligned with the junction 65c of the contact surface 65 at that stage and is in a stable state. Stop.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 24, the protruding bar 61 gives a required pressing force F2 as a whole via the contact surface 65 of the pressed body 62. The breakdown is as follows. 5 is obtained as the component force Fp in the direction A1 to be pushed into 5, and the component force Fd in the direction C2 in which the bearing 27 at the end 20b of the image forming unit 2 is pressed against the holding groove 55a.

  As a result, the image forming unit 2 is kept in a state where it is pushed into the mounting position of the mounting portion 5 by receiving the component force Fp in the pressing direction A1, while receiving the component force Fd in the pressing direction C2. The bearing 27 at 20 b is kept pressed against the holding groove 55 a of the inner door 14.

  In the image forming apparatus described above, as the pressing device 6, for example, as shown in FIG. 25, a pressing plate 66 using a toggle mechanism is installed on the inner door 14, and the side surface portion of the end portion 20b of the image forming unit 2 is installed. A pressing device 6 configured by installing a pressed body 62 having a contact surface 67 with which a part of the pressing plate 66 comes into contact can be applied.

  The pressing plate 66 using the toggle mechanism is a plate member having two sides that are divided into two forks across the support shaft 66a, and arrows D1 and D2 centering on the support shaft 66a at the junction of the two sides. It is attached so as to be rotatable in the direction shown. Further, the pressing plate 66 is formed in a shape that comes into contact with the front end portion of the contact projection 69 arranged in a state where the front end portion 66b of one side (lower side portion) protrudes from the end portion 20b of the image forming unit 2. The other one end (upper side) tip 66 c is formed in a shape that contacts the contact surface 67 of the pressed body 62. In addition to the case where the contact protrusion 69 is formed exclusively, the contact protrusion 69 may be configured to share part of the rotation stop protrusion 28 in the first embodiment.

  The pressing plate 66 is a toggle spring (coil spring) that exerts a pulling force Fh on a spring mounting portion 66d such as a protrusion or a hole provided at a substantially intermediate position between the support shaft 66a on the upper side portion and the tip end portion 66c. ) One end of 68 is attached. The other end portion of the toggle spring 68 is provided with a spring mounting portion 14e provided at a portion of the inner door 14 having a height between a height position in the vertical direction of the support shaft 66 and a height position in the vertical direction of the spring mounting portion 66d. Attached to. Thus, the pressing plate 66 is kept in a state where the toggle spring 68 exists at a position above the support shaft 66a in the vertical direction (pressing release state) when no external force is applied. The pulling force Fh of the toggle spring 68 when in the pressing release state is not particularly required, and can be zero. Reference numeral 14f in FIG. 25 and the like is a rotation stop member for contacting the pressing plate 66 when the toggle spring 68 is in the pressing release state and maintaining the posture at that time. When closing the inner door 14, the pressing plate 66 has a tip 66 b on its lower side that is closer to the tip of the contact protrusion 69 than a timing when the tip 66 c on the upper side contacts the contact surface 67 of the pressed body 62. It is attached to the state where the time of touching is first.

  On the other hand, the pressed body 62 is disposed at a position above the contact protrusion 69. Further, the contact surface 67 of the pressed body 62 is formed in a groove shape in which the bottom part is slightly offset toward the back side of the apparatus (downstream side in the mounting direction A1).

  Hereinafter, an operation at the time of mounting the image forming unit 2 when the pressing device 6 to which the pressed body 66 having the pressing plate 66 and the contact surface 67 using the toggle mechanism is applied will be described.

  When the inner door 14 is swung in the closing direction B2 when the image forming unit 2 is attached, the distal end portion 66b of the lower side portion of the pressing plate 66 constituting the pressing device 6 is attached to the image forming unit 2 as shown in FIG. The tip of the contact protrusion 69 located below the pressed body 62 constituting the pressing device 6 disposed on the side surface of the end portion 20b comes into contact. As a result, the pressing plate 66 starts to rotate in the direction of the arrow D2 around the support shaft 66a against the pulling force Fh of the toggle spring 68.

  Subsequently, when the inner door 14 is further swung in the closing direction so that the toggle spring 68 passes through the support shaft 66a, the pressing plate 66 rotates more vigorously in the direction of the arrow D2 around the support shaft 66a. This rotation is set so as to occur at the time when the distal end portion 66 c of the upper side portion of the pressing plate 66 approaches the contact surface 67 of the pressed body 62. As a result, finally, as shown in FIG. 27, the tip end portion 66c of the upper side portion of the pressing plate 66 enters the contact surface 67 of the pressed body 62 and comes into contact therewith. Finally, when the inner door 14 is completely closed, as shown in FIG. 27, the distal end portion 66 c of the upper side portion of the pressing plate 66 is in a state of being in strong contact with the contact surface 67 of the pressed body 62. At this time, the distal end portion 66 b of the lower side portion of the pressing plate 66 is in a state separated from the distal end portion of the contact protrusion 69.

  At this time, the tip 66c on the upper side of the pressing plate 66 gives a required pressing force F3 via the contact surface 67 of the pressed body 62, as shown in FIG. The component force Fp in the direction A1 in which the unit 2 is pushed into the mounting portion 5 and the component force Fd in the direction C2 in which the bearing 27 at the end 20b of the image forming unit 2 is pressed against the holding groove portion 55a are obtained. Here, the pressing force F3 causes the pressing plate 66 to rotate in the direction of the arrow D2 about the support shaft 66a when the force of the extended toggle spring 68 contracting and returning is applied to the pressing plate 66. Occurs by entering a state.

  As a result, the image forming unit 2 is kept in a state where it is pushed into the mounting position of the mounting portion 5 by receiving the component force Fp in the pressing direction A1, while receiving the component force Fd in the pressing direction C2. The bearing 27 at 20 b is kept pressed against the holding groove 55 a of the inner door 14. When the inner door 14 is opened, the pressing plate 66 has its upper end portion 66c in contact with the raised portion 67a on the front side of the contact surface 67, and the entire pressing plate is centered on the support shaft 66a. And rotate in the direction of arrow D1, thereby returning to the non-pressed state (FIG. 25) when the inner door 14 is opened.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus described above, the displacement device 7 in the opening / closing apparatus is adapted to displace the end portion 20b on the front side of each image forming unit 2; In addition to the end portion 20b on the side, the end portion 20a on the back side of the apparatus may be displaced.

  Further, the components mounted on the image forming unit 2 in the image forming apparatus described above are not limited to the combination of the photosensitive drum 21, the charging device 22, the developing device 23, and the drum cleaning device 24, but may be other combinations, or It may be a single item. Further, in the image forming apparatus, instead of the image forming unit 2, a detachable configuration in which other components are configured to be detachably mounted and the detachable components (for example, a paper transport device, a fixing device, etc.) are applied to the open / close detachable device It can also be adopted as a product. Further, the number of detachable components such as the image forming unit 2 is not limited to four, but may be a plurality of other components, or may be singular.

  In addition, when the image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied is an image forming apparatus capable of forming a color image, a method that does not use the intermediate transfer device 3 (so-called recording paper P in each image forming unit 2). A direct transfer format in which the toner image is directly transferred onto a recording sheet by being conveyed so as to pass through each primary transfer position may be employed. The image forming apparatus may use a method other than the electrophotographic method (for example, an ink jet recording method) as the image forming method. The image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied is represented by, for example, an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copier, and a facsimile, a print function, a copy function, a facsimile function (image input / output transmission / reception function), and the like. An image forming apparatus in which each function is combined is exemplified.

1 ... Housing (device main body)
2 ... Image forming unit (detachable component)
5 ... Mounting part 6 ... Pressing device (pressing means)
7: Displacement device (displacement means)
13 ... Opening 14 ... Inner door (opening / closing member)
20b: End on the front side of the apparatus (end on the opening side)
22 ... Charging device (powered parts)
23. Developing device (powered component)
55a ... Holding groove (holding portion)
61 ... Protruding rod (pushing member)
62 ... pressed body (pressed member)
63 ... Inclined surface (contact surface)
64 ... Protruding part (stopping part)
65, 67 ... contact surface 66 ... pressing plate (pressing member)
72 ... Contact rod (contact member)
73 ... Moving mechanism (moving means)
F: pressing force Fd: pressing force Fu in the pressing direction: pressing force (displacement force)

Claims (11)

An apparatus main body having a mounting portion that is detachably mounted by being moved so that the detachable component is pushed or pulled out through the opening;
An opening and closing member attached to the apparatus main body and opening and closing an opening in the mounting portion;
A holding portion that is provided on the opening / closing member and holds the end portion on the opening side of the detachable component when the opening / closing member is mounted in contact with the opening / closing member in the process of being closed;
The holding portion provided on the opening / closing member and in contact with a part of the opening side end portion of the detachable component when the detachable component is mounted on the mounting portion, and the holding portion Pressing means for applying a pressing force in the pressing direction to
Displacement means for applying a displacement force for displacing at least the end of the detachable component in the direction away from the holding portion in accordance with the operation of closing the opening by the opening / closing member. Opening and closing mechanism to do.   The displacing means includes at least the detachable component before the holding portion holds the end of the detachable component and before the pressing means contacts a part of the end of the detachable component. The opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism according to claim 1, wherein an end on the opening side is displaced in a direction away from the holding portion.   3. The pressing force in the direction of pressing against the holding portion of the pressing means is set to be larger than the displacement force of the displacement means when the opening / closing member closes the opening. Opening and closing mechanism.   The pressing means and the displacing means are arranged such that when the pressing means comes into contact with a part of the end of the detachable component and starts to apply a pressing force, the displacing means is the end of the detachable component. The opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the opening / detachment mechanism is set so as to be displaced in a direction away from the holding portion.   The said pressing means is comprised so that the pressing force which pushes the said detachable component in the said pushing direction may be exhibited ahead of the pressing force which pushes the said detachable component in the said pressing direction. Opening and closing mechanism according to crab.   The pressing means is provided in the pressing member provided in the opening / closing member and the detachable component, and is pressed in the pressing direction when a part of the pressing member is brought into contact with the closing operation of the opening / closing member. The opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a pressing force and a pressed member having a contact surface capable of generating a pressing force in the pressing direction.   The displacement means changes to a state in which the displacement force is applied in conjunction with an operation when the opening / closing member is closed, and changes to a state in which the displacement force is not applied in conjunction with an operation when the opening / closing member is opened. The opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which is configured as described above.   The displacing means is arranged to move to an operating position to be displaced by contact with a part of the detachable component mounted on the mounting part and a retracted position not to contact a part of the detachable component. The opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising a contact member provided in a mounting portion and a moving means for moving the contact member to at least the two positions.   The opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism according to claim 6, wherein the pressing member is provided with a restraining portion that restricts and stops a range in which a part of the pressing member that contacts the contact surface moves. The detachable component includes a power-supplied component that requires power supply,
The opening / closing attachment / detachment mechanism according to claim 8, wherein the contact member of the displacement unit is also configured as a power supply member connected to the power supply unit.   An image forming apparatus comprising the opening / closing mechanism according to claim 1.

Images