JP2012118427A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that can inhibit a recording material formed with an image thereon from being stained with a toner and the like scattered from the inside of the apparatus.SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes toner cartridges 18M, 18C and 18K, a lower cover member 90 that is openably and closably provided and covers at least a part of the toner cartridges 18M, 18C and 18K, an in-body loading part 60 to which paper formed with an image thereon is discharged, an upper cover member 80 that is openably and closably provided and covers the in-body loading part 60 from at least one direction, and a cover locking part 70 that regulates the opening of the upper cover member 80 when the lower cover member 90 is opened, and regulates the opening of the lower cover member 90 when the upper cover member 80 is opened.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  As a conventional technique, in the image forming apparatus, the content of the paper discharged on the paper discharge tray and the removal of the paper are prevented as necessary on the front surface of the paper discharge unit formed in the apparatus housing. A door that can be opened and closed is provided, and a key is provided on the door. An image forming apparatus is known that prevents a sheet discharged to a sheet discharge tray from being taken out by another person by closing the door and locking the key with a key (see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-339102

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing a recording material on which an image has been formed from being stained with toner or the like scattered from the inside of the apparatus.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording material with toner, a first covering member that is provided so as to be openable and covers at least a part of the image forming unit, and the image forming unit are provided. When the recording material on which the image is formed is discharged, a second cover member provided so as to be openable and closable so as to cover the discharge portion from at least one direction, and when the first cover member is opened Is an image forming apparatus including a restriction mechanism that restricts the opening of the second cover member and restricts the opening of the first cover member when the second cover member is open.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the regulating mechanism has a rotating portion that is rotatably provided, and when the rotating portion is rotated to the first position, the first covering member is opened and the rotating mechanism is opened. Restricting the opening of the second covering member, and restricting the opening of the first covering member while opening the second covering member when the rotating part is rotated to the second position. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the restriction mechanism has an insertion portion into which a key is inserted, and when the insertion portion is rotated by the key, the first covering member is opened. A mode in which the opening of the second covering member is restricted and a mode in which the opening of the first covering member is restricted when the second covering member is opened are switched. Item 3. The image forming apparatus according to Item 1 or 2.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the first cover member covers at least one of the toner containers holding the toner therein. is there.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, an image reading unit that reads an image on a document to generate image data, an image forming unit that is provided below the image reading unit and forms an image on a recording material with toner, and A discharge unit provided below the image reading unit and above or on the side of the image forming unit and from which a recording material on which an image is formed by the image forming unit is discharged; A first covering member that covers at least a part of the forming portion; a second covering member that is openable and closable above the first covering member; and that covers the discharge portion from at least one direction; and the first covering member A restriction mechanism that restricts the opening of the second covering member when the covering member is open, and restricts the opening of the first covering member when the second covering member is open; Is an image forming apparatus.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing the recording material on which an image is formed from being contaminated by toner or the like scattered from the inside of the apparatus as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided. Can do.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to suppress the recording material on which the image is formed from being contaminated by toner or the like scattered from the inside of the apparatus by a simpler operation compared to the case where the present configuration is not provided. it can.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus in which access to the area covered by the covering member is restricted when the key is not inserted, as compared with the case where this configuration is not provided. .

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to suppress the recording material on which the image is formed by the image forming material held inside the toner container from being stained as compared with the case where this configuration is not provided.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing the recording material on which an image is formed from being stained with toner or the like scattered from the inside of the apparatus as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided. Can do.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus to which the exemplary embodiment is applied. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an image forming apparatus to which the exemplary embodiment is applied. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure around a cover lock part. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of a cover lock part. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure around a cover lock part.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
<Image forming apparatus 100>
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus 100 to which the exemplary embodiment is applied. An image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 is a so-called tandem color printer. The image forming apparatus 100 includes an image forming unit 10 that forms an image corresponding to image data of each color, and a control unit 20 that controls the operation of the entire image forming apparatus 100. The image forming apparatus 100 includes an image reading apparatus 30 (image reading unit) that is provided on the upper side of the image forming apparatus 100 and includes a scanner that reads an image of a document. Further, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a paper supply unit 40 that supplies the paper S to the image forming unit 10.
Here, each component of the image forming apparatus 100 is accommodated in the housing 50. Further, an in-cylinder stacking unit (discharge unit) 60 having a stacking surface on which the sheet S on which an image is formed by the image forming unit 10 is stacked on the upper surface of the housing 50 below the image reading device 30. Is provided.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 100 is provided so as to be openable and closable so as to cover a front surface (operation surface side, front side of the image forming apparatus 100) of a space formed between the in-cylinder stacking unit 60 and the image reading apparatus 30. A cover member 80 is provided. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 100 is provided so as to be openable and closable, and the front surface (operation surface side, image forming) of a space in which toner cartridges 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K (described later) are inserted below the in-body stacking unit 60. A lower cover member 90 that covers the front side of the apparatus 100 is provided.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a cover lock unit 70 that locks (fixes) the upper cover member 80 and the lower cover member 90 in a closed state. Further, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an upper cover sensor (not shown) that detects that the upper cover member 80 is closed at a position facing the closed upper cover member 80. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a lower cover sensor (not shown) that detects that the lower cover member 90 is closed at a position facing the closed lower cover member 90.

<Image forming unit 10>
The image forming unit 10 includes four image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K that are arranged in parallel at regular intervals. Each of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K includes a photosensitive drum 12 that forms an electrostatic latent image and holds the toner image, and forms a toner image by a so-called electrophotographic method. Here, the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are configured in the same manner except for the toner stored in the developing device. Each of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K forms yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toner images. For this reason, in the following description, the components of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are distinguished from each other by adding “Y”, “M”, “C”, and “K”, respectively. However, when it is not necessary to distinguish, these symbols are not attached.

Further, the image forming unit 10 includes an intermediate transfer belt 13 to which each color toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 12 of each image forming unit 1 is transferred. Further, the image forming unit 10 includes a primary transfer roll 17 that sequentially transfers (primary transfer) each color toner image formed by each image forming unit 1 to the intermediate transfer belt 13. Further, the image forming unit 10 includes a secondary transfer unit 19 that batch-transfers (secondary transfer) each color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 13 onto a sheet S that is a recording material (recording paper); And a fixing device 21 that fixes the second-transferred toner images on the paper S.
Furthermore, the image forming unit 10 includes an exit sensor 22 that detects the passage of the paper S on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing device 21. Furthermore, an in-cylinder discharge roll 23 that discharges the sheet S that has passed through the exit sensor 22 to the in-cylinder stacking unit 60 is provided.

Furthermore, the image forming unit 10 includes four toner cartridges 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K on the upper side of each image forming unit 1 with the intermediate transfer belt 13 interposed therebetween. Each of the toner cartridges 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K supplies toner of a color corresponding to a developing device provided in the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K. Each toner cartridge (toner container) 18 is inserted into each of four insertion holes 18a (see FIG. 2) formed in the housing 50 from the front surface (operation surface side) of the image forming apparatus 100 (FIG. 2). (See arrow B).
Here, each of the toner cartridges 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K is configured similarly except for the toner to be stored. In the following description, the configurations of the toner cartridges 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K are distinguished by attaching “Y”, “M”, “C”, and “K”, respectively. When there is no such code, these symbols are not attached.

  The paper supply unit 40 includes a paper storage unit 41, a feed roll 43, a separating roll 45 and a registration roll 47. The paper storage unit 41 stores the paper S. The feeding roll 43 is arranged on the upper part of the paper storage unit 41 and feeds the uppermost paper S out of the bundle of papers S stored in the paper storage unit 41. The separating roll 45 conveys the sheets S fed by the feeding roll 43 one by one. In addition, the registration roll 47 supplies the paper S to the secondary transfer unit 19 by temporarily stopping the paper S that has been transported by the roll 45 and restarting rotation at the same timing.

<Upper cover member 80>
Next, the upper cover member 80 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Here, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the image forming apparatus 100 to which the exemplary embodiment is applied.
As shown in FIG. 2, the upper cover member 80, which is an example of a second cover member, is provided on the front surface (operation surface side) of the image forming apparatus 100 so as to be openable and closable (see arrow A1). The upper cover member 80 includes a cover surface 80a that is a plate-like portion, and a hinge 81 provided at one end (upper end) of the cover surface 80a. Further, the upper cover member 80 is provided at an end portion (lower end portion) opposite to the one end portion where the hinge 81 is provided, and is an upper restricted portion 80 </ b> L restricted by the main body portion side of the image forming apparatus 100. (See FIG. 2).

Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the cover surface 80 a is configured to have a dimension that covers from the lower part of the image reading device 30 to the lower part of the in-body stacking unit 60 in a state where the upper cover member 80 is closed. .
In the present embodiment, when the upper cover member 80 is closed, removal of the paper S discharged to the in-body stacking unit 60 is restricted. Further, the user's access to the in-cylinder discharge roll 23 exposed on the in-cylinder stacking unit 60 side is restricted.

<Lower cover member 90>
Next, the lower cover member 90 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
As shown in FIG. 2, the lower cover member 90, which is an example of a first covering member, is provided on the front surface (operation surface side) of the image forming apparatus 100 so as to be openable and closable (see arrow A2). The lower cover member 90 includes a cover surface 90a that is a plate-like portion and a hinge 91 provided at one end (lower end) of the cover surface 90a. Further, the lower cover member 90 is provided at an end portion (upper end portion) opposite to one end portion where the hinge 91 is provided, and is a lower restricted portion 90 </ b> L restricted by the main body portion side of the image forming apparatus 100. (See FIG. 2).

Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the cover surface 90 a is configured to cover the front surface of the toner cartridge 18 inserted below the in-body stacking portion 60 in a state where the lower cover member 90 is closed. Yes.
In the present embodiment, when the lower cover member 90 is closed, the removal of the toner cartridge 18 covered by the lower cover member 90 is restricted.
In the present embodiment, the lower cover member 90 is described as a configuration that covers the front surface of the region in which the toner cartridge 18 is inserted, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the lower cover member 90 may cover the front surface of the other members constituting the image forming apparatus 100 such as the image forming unit 1.

<Cover lock part 70>
Next, the cover lock unit 70 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. Here, FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a configuration around the cover lock unit 70.

  The cover lock unit 70, which is an example of a restriction mechanism, is provided below the in-body stacking unit 60 and on the front surface 50 b (the operation surface side, the front side of the image forming apparatus 100) of the housing 50. More specifically, in a state where the upper cover member 80 and the lower cover member 90 are closed, the cover lock portion 70 includes the upper restricted portion 80L of the upper cover member 80 and the lower restricted portion of the lower cover member 90. It is arranged between 90L.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the cover lock portion 70 is formed with a key hole 71a into which a key (key, not shown) is inserted, and a cylinder portion ( (Rotating part, inserting part) 71 (see FIG. 4). In the present embodiment, the cylinder portion 71 cannot be rotated in a state where no key is inserted into the key hole 71 a of the cylinder portion 71. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the cover lock portion 70 is connected to the cylinder portion 71 and hooks that engage with the upper restricted portion 80 </ b> L of the upper cover member 80 and the lower restricted portion 90 </ b> L of the lower cover member 90. 72.

Here, the cylinder portion 71 is rotated by inserting a key into the key hole 71a as described above (see arrow C). By this rotation, the cylinder portion 71 is configured to take three states. (Details will be described later).
As shown in FIG. 3, the hook 72 is a fan-shaped plate-like member, and the fan-shaped center side is connected to the cylinder portion 71. The hook 72 is configured to rotate together with the cylinder portion 71. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the hook 72 has a first end 72b which is one end of the sector (the upper end in FIG. 3) and the other end of the sector (the lower end in FIG. 3). An arc 72a connecting the second end 72c, which is an end).

<Upper restricted portion 80L and lower restricted portion 90L>
Next, the upper restricted portion 80L of the upper cover member 80 and the lower restricted portion 90L of the lower cover member 90 that engage with the hook 72 of the cover lock portion 70 will be described.
The upper restricted portion 80L of the upper cover member 80 has a gap between the front portion 80La provided on the front surface of the upper restricted portion 80L (the front side of the image forming apparatus 100) and the front portion 80La. And a rear surface portion 80Lb disposed on the rear side of the front surface portion 80La. As shown in FIG. 3, the upper restricted portion 80L has a space through which the hook 72 passes between the front surface portion 80La and the rear surface portion 80Lb.

  Here, when the hook 72 is located in the space formed by the front surface portion 80La and the rear surface portion 80Lb, the upper cover member 80 is locked. Specifically, when the upper cover member 80 is moved toward the front side of the sheet of FIG. 3 in order to open the upper cover member 80, the hook 72 is hooked on the rear surface portion 80Lb of the upper restricted portion 80L. Therefore, the upper cover member 80 maintains a closed state.

  Next, the lower restricted portion 90L of the lower cover member 90 has a gap between the front portion 90La provided on the front surface of the lower restricted portion 90L (the front side of the image forming apparatus 100) and the front portion 90La. And a rear surface portion 90Lb provided on the rear side of the front surface portion 90La. As shown in FIG. 3, the lower restricted portion 90L has a space through which the hook 72 passes between the front surface portion 90La and the rear surface portion 90Lb.

Here, when the hook 72 is located in the space formed by the front surface portion 90La and the rear surface portion 90Lb, the lower cover member 90 is locked. Specifically, when the lower cover member 90 is moved toward the front side of the sheet of FIG. 3 in order to open the lower cover member 90, the hook 72 is hooked on the rear surface portion 90Lb of the lower restricted portion 90L. Therefore, the lower cover member 90 maintains a closed state.
<Lock operation>

  Next, the operation when the cover lock unit 70 locks the upper cover member 80 and the lower cover member 90 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the cover lock unit 70.

  FIG. 4A shows a state where the cover lock portion 70 locks the upper cover member 80 and the lower cover member 90. In this state, the hook 72 is disposed in a state of entering the space inside the upper restrained portion 80 </ b> L of the upper cover member 80. Therefore, the upper cover member 80 is locked. Further, the hook 72 is disposed in a state where the hook 72 has also entered the space inside the lower restricted portion 90 </ b> L of the lower cover member 90. As a result, the lower cover member 90 is also locked.

  FIG. 4B shows a state (second position) in which the upper cover member 80 is released and the lower cover member 90 is locked by the cover lock portion 70. In this state, the hook 72 is disposed outside the upper restricted portion 80 </ b> L of the upper cover member 80. Accordingly, the upper cover member 80 is released. On the other hand, in the state shown in FIG. 4B, the hook 72 is arranged in a state of entering the space inside the lower restricted portion 90 </ b> L of the lower cover member 90. Therefore, the lower cover member 90 is locked.

  FIG. 4C shows a state (first position) in which the lower cover member 90 is released while the cover lock portion 70 locks the upper cover member 80. In this state, the hook 72 is disposed in a state of entering the space inside the upper restricted portion 80 </ b> L of the upper cover member 80. Therefore, the upper cover member 80 is locked. On the other hand, in the state shown in FIG. 4C, the hook 72 is disposed outside the lower restricted portion 90 </ b> L of the lower cover member 90. Therefore, the lower cover member 90 is in a released state.

<Operation of Image Forming Apparatus 100>
Here, the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described.

  When the image forming apparatus 100 starts an image forming operation, image data input from the image reading apparatus 30 and the like is sent to each image forming unit 1 after being subjected to predetermined image processing. For example, in the image forming unit 1 </ b> K that forms a black (K) color toner image, the photosensitive drum 12 is uniformly charged at a predetermined potential while being rotated and scanned and exposed. Thereby, an electrostatic latent image related to a black (K) color image is formed on the photosensitive drum 12. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 12 is developed, and a black (K) toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 12. Similarly, in the image forming units 1Y, 1M, and 1C, yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) toner images are formed, respectively.

The toner images of the respective colors formed by the image forming units 1 are sequentially electrostatically attracted by the primary transfer roll 17 onto the intermediate transfer belt 13 that is driven to rotate. As a result, a superimposed toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 13 in which the toners of the respective colors are superimposed. The superimposed toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 13 is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 19 as the intermediate transfer belt 13 moves.
On the other hand, the paper S stacked in the paper storage unit 41 is fed out by the feeding roll 43 and is picked up and conveyed by the winding roll 45. Further, the sheet S that has been fed is supplied to the secondary transfer unit 19 by the registration roll 47.
Then, the superimposed toner image is electrostatically transferred collectively on the paper S supplied through the registration roll 47 by the action of the transfer electric field formed by the secondary transfer unit 19.

  Thereafter, the sheet S on which the superimposed toner image is electrostatically transferred is peeled from the intermediate transfer belt 13 and conveyed to the fixing device 21. The toner image on the paper S conveyed to the fixing device 21 is fixed on the paper S by being subjected to a fixing process by heat and pressure by the fixing device 21. The sheet S on which the fixed image is formed is detected by the exit sensor 22 and then discharged and stacked on the in-cylinder stacking unit 60 by the in-cylinder discharge roll 23. In this way, image formation in the image forming apparatus 100 is repeated for a cycle corresponding to the number of printed sheets.

  Here, when the sheet S discharged and stacked on the in-body stacking unit 60 is taken out, a key (not shown) is inserted into the cylinder unit 71 of the cover lock unit 70 by the user, and the cylinder unit 71 is shown in FIG. Is rotated clockwise. By this rotation, as shown in FIG. 4B, the hook 72 is disposed outside the space of the upper restricted portion 80 </ b> L of the upper cover member 80, and the upper cover member 80 can be opened. Then, the upper cover member 80 is opened by the user, and the sheets S stacked on the in-body stacking unit 60 are taken out. In the state shown in FIG. 4B, the lower cover member 90 is locked by the cover lock portion 70.

  Although a detailed description is omitted above, when the user takes out the toner cartridge 18, a key (not shown) is inserted into the cylinder portion 71 of the cover lock portion 70 by the user, and the cylinder portion 71. Is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. By this rotation, as shown in FIG. 4C, the hook 72 is disposed outside the space of the lower restricted portion 90L of the lower cover member 90, and the lower cover member 90 can be opened. Then, the lower cover member 90 is opened by the user, and the toner cartridge 18 inserted below the in-body stacking portion 60 is extracted from the insertion hole 18a (see arrow B in FIG. 2). In the state shown in FIG. 4C, the upper cover member 80 is locked by the cover lock portion 70.

As described above, in the present embodiment, only one of the upper cover member 80 and the lower cover member 90 is opened. In other words, the upper cover member 80 and the lower cover member 90 are exclusively opened.
Here, as the toner cartridge 18 is replaced, the toner adhering to the toner cartridge 18 may be scattered. Even when the toner is thus scattered, in this embodiment, the floating toner is prevented from entering the in-cylinder stacking unit 60. This is because the upper cover member 80 is closed and locked when the toner cartridge 18 is operated. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the paper S in the in-cylinder stacking unit 60 is prevented from being stained as the toner cartridge 18 is replaced.

  In this embodiment, when taking out the paper S, the lower cover member 90 is closed and locked. Here, the toner adhering to the toner cartridge 18 inserted into the housing 50 may be scattered due to the image forming operation or the like of the image forming unit 10. Even when the toner scatters as described above, the lower cover member 90 is closed and locked, so that the floating toner is prevented from being released to the outside of the housing 50. Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the paper S from becoming dirty as the paper S is taken out.

Next, a modified example of the cover lock unit 70 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a configuration around the cover lock unit 70.
As shown in FIG. 5, the cover lock part 70 in the present embodiment includes a cylinder part 71, a hook 72 that is a fan-shaped plate member, and a second part provided on the opposite side of the hook 72 across the cylinder part 71. And a hook 73. The second hook 73 is a columnar member, and has one end connected to the cylinder part 71 and the other end located on the side opposite to the side where the cylinder part 71 is provided.

Further, the cover lock unit 70 includes a first solenoid S1 provided at a position deviating from the movement path of the second hook 73. Further, the cover lock unit 70 has a first pin P1 that is driven by the first solenoid S1 and moves forward and backward with respect to the movement path of the second hook 73 (see arrow D in FIG. 5).
Furthermore, the cover lock portion 70 has a second solenoid S2 provided at a position deviating from the moving path of the second hook 73 and on the lower cover member 90 side than the first solenoid S1. Further, the cover lock portion 70 is driven by the second solenoid S2 to advance and retreat with respect to the movement path of the second hook 73 (see arrow D in FIG. 5), and is provided on the lower cover member 90 side than the first pin P1. The second pin P2 is provided. The second pin P2 is provided along the first pin P1.

Next, the operation of the cover lock unit 70 in the present embodiment will be described. First, in a state where the first solenoid S1 and the second solenoid S2 are not driven, the first pin P1 and the second pin P2 are respectively disposed outside the movement path of the second hook 73.
In the present embodiment, when the cover lock portion 70 releases the upper cover member 80 and locks the lower cover member 90 (see FIG. 4B), the cover lock portion 70 A sensor (not shown) detects the operation. When this sensor detects, the second solenoid S2 is driven. By driving the second solenoid S2, the second pin P2 is disposed in the movement path of the second hook 73 (see the area A in FIG. 4B). The second pin P2 restricts the cylinder portion 71 shown in FIG. 4B from rotating counterclockwise in the drawing. Thereby, the movement of the hook 72 is also restricted, and the lower cover member 90 can be prevented from being opened.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the cover lock portion 70 is in a state of locking the upper cover member 80 and opening the lower cover member 90 (see FIG. 4C), the cover lock portion 70 A sensor (not shown) detects the operation. The first solenoid S1 is driven by the detection by this sensor. By driving the first solenoid S1, the first pin P1 is disposed in the movement path of the second hook 73 (see region B in FIG. 4C). The first pin P1 restricts the cylinder portion 71 shown in FIG. 4C from rotating in the clockwise direction in the drawing. Thereby, the movement of the hook 72 is also restricted, and the upper cover member 80 can be prevented from being opened.

1 to 4, for example, after the upper cover member 80 is released, the lower cover member 90 is released by rotating the cover lock portion 70 counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 4. Might be possible. That is, both the upper cover member 80 and the lower cover member 90 can be opened. As described above, when both the upper cover member 80 and the lower cover member 90 are simultaneously opened, the paper S may be stained.
Therefore, the configuration shown in FIG. 5 prevents both the upper cover member 80 and the lower cover member 90 from being opened simultaneously.

1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K ... Image forming unit, 18 ... Toner cartridge, 19 ... Secondary transfer unit, 21 ... Fixing device, 23 ... In-cylinder discharge roll, 50 ... Housing, 60 ... In-cylinder stacking unit, 70 ... Cover Lock part, 71 ... Cylinder part, 72 ... Hook, 80 ... Upper cover member, 80L ... Upper restricted part, 90 ... Lower cover member, 90L ... Lower restricted part, 100 ... Image forming apparatus, S ... Paper

Claims (5)

An image forming unit that forms an image on a recording material with toner;
A first covering member provided to be openable and closable and covering at least a part of the image forming unit;
A discharge unit for discharging the recording material on which an image is formed by the image forming unit;
A second covering member provided so as to be openable and closable and covering the discharge part from at least one direction;
When the first covering member is opened, the opening of the second covering member is restricted, and when the second covering member is opened, the opening of the first covering member is restricted. And an image forming apparatus.   The restricting mechanism has a rotating portion that is rotatably provided. When the rotating portion is rotated to the first position, the first covering member is opened and the second covering member is opened. 2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein when the rotating portion is rotated to the second position, the second covering member is opened and the opening of the first covering member is restricted. Image forming apparatus.   The restricting mechanism has an insertion portion into which a key is inserted, and when the insertion portion is rotated by the key, when the first covering member is opened, the second covering member The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the mode for restricting opening and the mode for regulating the opening of the first covering member are switched when the second covering member is opened. apparatus.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first covering member covers a toner container that holds toner therein from at least one side. 5. An image reading unit that reads an image on a document and generates image data;
An image forming unit provided below the image reading unit and forming an image on a recording material with toner;
A discharge unit provided below the image reading unit and above or on the side of the image forming unit and from which a recording material on which an image is formed by the image forming unit is discharged;
A first covering member provided to be openable and closable and covering at least a part of the image forming unit;
A second covering member provided above the first covering member so as to be openable and closable, and covering the discharge portion from at least one direction;
When the first covering member is opened, the opening of the second covering member is restricted, and when the second covering member is opened, the opening of the first covering member is restricted. And an image forming apparatus.

Images