JP2012194497A - Color image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily enable loading a composite body consisting of an intermediate transfer unit and a process frame unit to a device body even when the size of the intermediate transfer unit is increased.SOLUTION: A color image forming device comprises: a process frame unit 90 which is loaded inside a device body 101 and forms a color image; and an intermediate transfer unit 70 for transferring the color image formed by the process frame unit 90. The intermediate transfer unit 70 is inserted into/pulled out from the process frame unit 90 and the device body 101, and has an openable and closable structure like a door as it is vertical. A temporary stopping mechanism 20 is disposed between the process frame unit 90 and the device body 101 and has an allowance for adjusting a displacement gap. With this structure, a role of a rough guide is provided and the interference between an intermediate transfer belt and a photoreceptor drum and the interference between the device body and the intermediate transfer unit 70 can be avoided.

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color image forming apparatus suitable for application to a tandem type color printer or color copying machine that has a large intermediate transfer unit and forms a color image, a color composite machine, or the like.

  In recent years, there have been color printers that form color images based on color image information, color copiers that have a scan function that reads an image of an original and outputs an image signal for color image reproduction, and multifunction devices. It has been increasingly used. For example, digital color printers that form color images based on red (R), green (G), and blue (B) image data from external devices such as personal computers are widely used.

  In this type of printer, according to a color printer that employs an electrophotographic system, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (BK) after color conversion of RGB image data is performed. ) An image forming unit for forming a color toner image based on the color image data is provided. The image forming unit includes image forming units that share image forming output functions of Y, M, C, and BK colors, and image data is applied to a photosensitive drum uniformly charged by a charger for each image forming color. Based on the above, an electrostatic latent image is formed by a scanning exposure unit using a polygon mirror or the like.

  This electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing device for each image forming color. The color toner image formed on the photosensitive drum after being charged, exposed and developed in this manner is superimposed on, for example, an intermediate transfer belt, and the superimposed color toner image is transferred to a sheet material (paper) by a transfer unit. ). The toner image transferred onto the predetermined transfer material is fixed by the fixing unit. As a result, a color image based on the image data can be formed on a predetermined sheet material.

  The above-described intermediate transfer belt, belt cleaner, roller, and the like are unitized and are often configured as an intermediate transfer unit. A tandem type color image forming apparatus provided with this type of intermediate transfer unit often employs a structure in which the intermediate transfer unit can be inserted into and removed from the apparatus main body.

  Concerning the structure for inserting / removing the intermediate transfer unit, for example, in order to facilitate maintenance of the intermediate transfer belt, belt cleaner, and roller, a structure in which the photosensitive drum unit can be attached to and detached from the intermediate transfer unit, the belt is replaced by removing the front panel. A structure in which the intermediate transfer unit can be opened and closed vertically, a structure in which the intermediate transfer unit can be opened and closed together with the side cover, and a structure in which the intermediate transfer unit can be attached and detached from the upper surface of the apparatus main body.

  Regarding the structure in which the photosensitive drum unit can be attached to and detached from the above-described intermediate transfer unit, Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus. According to this image forming apparatus, the photosensitive drum unit, the intermediate transfer unit, the support frame, the suspension means, and the attaching / detaching means are provided, and a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum unit. The intermediate transfer unit conveys the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum unit to the transfer paper. The intermediate transfer unit is attached to the support frame. The suspension means is disposed to face the intermediate transfer unit, and suspends the photosensitive drum unit on a support frame on which the intermediate transfer unit is mounted. On the premise of this, the attaching / detaching means is attached to the support frame, and this attaching / detaching means is operated so as to insert / remove the support frame into / from the apparatus main body. By adopting such a unit suspension structure, the intermediate transfer member unit and the photosensitive drum unit can be easily maintained and replaced.

  Further, regarding a structure in which the intermediate transfer belt can be replaced, Patent Document 2 discloses an image forming apparatus. According to this image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus main body, the intermediate transfer unit, and the relaxation mechanism are provided, and the intermediate transfer unit has the front panel and the intermediate transfer belt. The relaxation mechanism is provided in the intermediate transfer unit, and operates to relax the tension of the intermediate transfer belt. The intermediate transfer unit is slidably supported between a set position attached to the image forming apparatus main body and a belt replacement position pulled out from the image forming apparatus main body.

  With these assumptions in mind, the front transfer panel is removed, the intermediate transfer unit is pulled out to the belt replacement position, and the intermediate transfer belt is pulled in and out in the belt width direction with the tension of the intermediate transfer belt relaxed by the loosening mechanism. I did it. With such a belt replacement structure, the intermediate transfer belt can be easily replaced.

  Furthermore, regarding a structure in which the intermediate transfer unit can be opened and closed vertically, an image forming apparatus is disclosed in Patent Document 3. According to the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor, a conveyance unit, a transfer unit, a slide mechanism, a support frame, a rotation hinge, a damper member, and a main body frame. The transfer unit includes the transfer unit. It is installed so as to come into contact with a photosensitive member on which the developer image is formed via a belt conveyed by a conveying unit.

  The main body frame is provided with a slide mechanism, and the slide mechanism is provided with a support frame so as to be movable. The support frame supports the transfer unit and restrains the transfer unit in the moving direction between the transfer action position and the non-transfer action position. The support frame is provided with a rotatable hinge. A damper member is provided at a position interlocked with the rotation operation of the transfer unit. Based on this assumption, the damper member is made to act in the direction in which the transfer unit rotates and drops by its own weight. By configuring the image forming apparatus in this way, it is possible to ensure the safety of the operator during the maintenance operation and to prevent the apparatus from being damaged.

  Furthermore, regarding a structure in which the intermediate transfer unit can be opened and closed together with the side cover, an image forming apparatus is disclosed in Patent Document 4. The image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a sheet conveying unit, an image forming unit, a side cover, a reversing unit, and a refeeding unit. The sheet conveying unit conveys the sheet substantially vertically toward the image forming unit. To do. The image forming unit forms an image on the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying unit.

  On the other hand, the side cover is provided to be openable and closable with respect to the apparatus main body, and holds the sheet conveying means. The reversing unit reverses the sheet after image formation on one side. The refeed unit conveys the sheet reversed by the reversing unit to the upstream side of the sheet conveying unit. Based on these assumptions, the sheet refeeding unit is configured integrally with the side cover, and the sheet conveying unit is detachably attached to the side cover.

  When the side cover is opened from the apparatus main body, the conveyance path by the sheet conveyance unit is opened so that the sheet in the refeed unit can be taken out from the mounting surface side with respect to the side cover of the sheet conveyance unit. When the image forming apparatus is configured in this manner, it is not necessary to provide a duplex unit function outside the side cover, the configuration can be simplified, and operability during jam processing can be improved.

  Further, regarding a structure in which the intermediate transfer unit can be attached and detached from the upper surface of the apparatus main body, Patent Document 5 discloses an image forming apparatus. According to this image forming apparatus, the image forming unit and the intermediate transfer unit are provided, and the image forming unit forms a toner image on each of the plurality of image carriers based on the input image. The intermediate transfer unit has an intermediate transfer belt, and superimposes the toner image formed by the image forming unit on the intermediate transfer belt, and transfers the superimposed toner image onto a transfer material.

  On the other hand, in the intermediate transfer unit, the intermediate transfer belt is stretched around the upper and lower rollers and travels vertically. The intermediate transfer unit is configured by integrating an intermediate transfer belt and upper and lower rollers. Based on these assumptions, the intermediate transfer unit was attached and detached from the upper part of the apparatus main body. If the image forming apparatus is configured in this way, the intermediate transfer belt can be replaced in the intermediate transfer unit that is attached and detached from the upper part of the apparatus main body.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-037677 (page 8 FIG. 3) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2009-092806 (page 7 FIG. 9) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-309036 (FIG. 12 on page 6) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-162492 (FIG. 3 on page 7) JP 2002-062473 A (page 5 FIG. 3)

  By the way, according to the color image forming apparatus provided with the intermediate transfer unit according to the conventional example, there are the following problems when performing maintenance of the intermediate transfer belt, the belt cleaner, the roller, and the like.

  i. According to the image forming apparatus of Patent Document 1, a structure in which the photosensitive drum unit is detachable from the intermediate transfer unit is employed. However, there is a problem that the intermediate transfer unit is increased in size as the color developing section is increased in color (4 colors → 6 colors, etc.), so that it becomes difficult to attach and detach due to an increase in weight of the intermediate transfer unit.

  ii. According to the image forming apparatus of Patent Document 2, a structure in which the belt can be replaced by removing the front panel is adopted. However, it is necessary to remove the front panel that serves as a positioning reference, and there is a problem that the work for restoring the positioning of the front panel becomes complicated after belt replacement.

  iii. According to the image forming apparatus of Patent Document 3, a structure that can open and close the intermediate transfer unit up and down is employed. However, at the time of maintenance, it is necessary for the operator to look into the intermediate transfer unit developed upward, and there is a problem that workability is poor.

  iv. According to the image forming apparatus of Patent Document 4, a structure is employed in which the intermediate transfer unit can be opened and closed together with the side cover of the apparatus main body. However, when a system configuration is adopted in which a large paper feeder is connected to the side of the apparatus main body, there is a problem that the large paper feeder must be disconnected from the side of the apparatus main body each time a jam is processed.

  v. According to the image forming apparatus of Patent Document 5, a structure in which the intermediate transfer unit can be attached and detached from the upper surface of the apparatus main body is adopted. However, since the intermediate transfer unit is increased in size with the increase in the number of colors in the color developing unit, there is a problem that it becomes difficult to attach and detach due to an increase in the weight of the intermediate transfer unit and the like.

  vi. Incidentally, in the above-described image forming apparatus, when a composite loading structure (hereinafter also referred to as a composite unit) in which the intermediate transfer unit and the photosensitive drum unit are laid together and loaded into the main body of the apparatus is adopted, If the composite unit is loaded in the apparatus main body without any ingenuity, there is a problem that positioning between both units after loading becomes difficult depending on the fixed state between the two units.

  Therefore, the present invention solves the above-described problem, and even if the intermediate transfer unit is devised in its loading structure to increase the size of the unit, it is a complex composed of the intermediate transfer unit and the process frame unit. It is an object of the present invention to provide a color image forming apparatus in which a unit can be easily loaded into an apparatus main body.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a color image forming apparatus according to claim 1 includes an apparatus main body, a process gantry unit mounted inside the apparatus main body to form a color image, and the process gantry unit. An intermediate transfer unit for transferring the formed color image, and the intermediate transfer unit can be opened / closed from the process base unit and the apparatus main body, and can be opened and closed like a door while maintaining a vertical shape. A temporary fixing mechanism is provided between the process gantry unit and the intermediate transfer unit, and the temporary fixing mechanism has a play for adjusting a misalignment gap. It is.

  According to the color image forming apparatus of the first aspect, the process gantry unit is mounted inside the apparatus main body to form a color image. The intermediate transfer unit transfers the color image formed by the process gantry unit. On the premise of this, the intermediate transfer unit has a structure that can be inserted and removed from the process base unit and the apparatus main body, and can be opened and closed like a door while maintaining a vertical shape. A temporary fixing mechanism is provided between the process gantry unit and the intermediate transfer unit, and this temporary fixing mechanism has a play for adjusting a positional deviation gap.

  With this structure, when a composite body consisting of an intermediate transfer unit and a process base unit is loaded into the apparatus main body, it serves as a rough guide, and it interferes with the intermediate transfer belt and the photosensitive drum, and the apparatus main body. This makes it possible to avoid interference between the intermediate transfer unit and the intermediate transfer unit.

  A color image forming apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the color image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the temporary fixing mechanism includes a magnetic member that is provided in the process mount unit and attracts the intermediate transfer unit. When the adsorbing direction is the unit adsorbing direction, the magnetic member has a play for adjusting a misalignment gap in the unit adsorbing direction.

  A color image forming apparatus according to a third aspect is the color image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the temporary fixing mechanism has an adjustment function of adjusting a positional deviation gap in the unit suction direction.

  According to the color image forming apparatus according to claim 1, the intermediate transfer unit having a structure in which the process frame unit for forming a color image and the main body of the process frame are both inserted and removed and can be opened and closed in a vertical shape. The temporary fixing mechanism is provided between the two and the temporary fixing mechanism has a play for adjusting the positional deviation gap.

  With this structure, when a composite body consisting of an intermediate transfer unit and a process base unit is loaded into the apparatus main body, it serves as a rough guide, and it interferes with the intermediate transfer belt and the photosensitive drum, and the apparatus main body. This makes it possible to avoid interference between the intermediate transfer unit and the intermediate transfer unit. Moreover, even when the intermediate transfer unit is increased in size and weight, a composite unit composed of the intermediate transfer unit and the process gantry unit can be easily loaded into the apparatus main body.

  According to the color image forming apparatus of the second aspect, the temporary fixing mechanism including the magnetic member is provided in the process frame unit, and the magnetic member is displaced in the unit adsorption direction when the intermediate transfer unit is adsorbed. Since adjustment play is provided, a role of a rough guide can be provided when a composite body including the intermediate transfer unit and the process frame unit is loaded into the apparatus main body.

  According to the color image forming apparatus of the third aspect, since the temporary fixing mechanism has an adjustment function of adjusting the positional deviation gap in the unit suction direction, the composite body composed of the intermediate transfer unit and the process frame unit is loaded in the apparatus main body. When doing this, the rough guide function can be adjusted in detail.

1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration example of a color printer 100 as an embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an example of opening and closing of an intermediate transfer unit according to a first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration example of a rotary hinge unit 60. 6 is a top view showing an example of play setting in the rotary hinge section 60. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of loading the composite unit 201. FIG. 6 is a front view showing a handling example (part 1) of the composite unit 201. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a handling example (part 2) of the composite unit 201. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a handling example (No. 3) of the composite unit 201. FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a handling example (part 4) of the composite unit 201. It is a perspective view which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the temporary fix | stop mechanism 20 which concerns on a 2nd Example. 3 is a front view illustrating a configuration example of a temporary fixing mechanism 20. FIG. (A) And (B) is sectional drawing which shows the operation example of the temporary fix | stop mechanism 20. As shown in FIG. (A) And (B) is sectional drawing which shows the structural example of the stopper link mechanism 30 which concerns on a 3rd Example. It is sectional drawing which shows the structural example of the rotation hinge part 603. FIG. FIG. 6 is an upper cross-sectional view showing an operation example (part 1) of the stopper link mechanism 30; 6 is an upper cross-sectional view showing an operation example (part 2) of the stopper link mechanism 30. FIG. FIG. 10 is an upper cross-sectional view illustrating an operation example (No. 3) of the stopper link mechanism 30; (A) And (B) is sectional drawing which shows the structural example of the stopper link mechanism 40 which concerns on a 4th Example. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration example of a rotary hinge unit 604. 6 is an upper cross-sectional view showing an operation example (part 1) of the stopper link mechanism 40. FIG. FIG. 9 is an upper cross-sectional view showing an operation example (part 2) of the stopper link mechanism 40; FIG. 10 is an upper cross-sectional view showing an operation example (No. 3) of the stopper link mechanism 40; It is a perspective view which shows the example of opening and closing of the process mount unit 95 of the color printer 500 concerning a 5th Example.

  A color image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. A vertical tandem type color printer 100 shown in FIG. 1 constitutes an example of a color image forming apparatus, and has an apparatus main body 101 for forming a color image. The apparatus main body 101 inputs image information and forms a color image by superimposing colors on the intermediate transfer belt 6 (image carrier) based on the image information. Image information is supplied from an external device such as a personal computer to the color printer 100 and transferred to the image forming unit 80.

  The image forming unit 80 is mounted on the apparatus main body unit 101. The apparatus main body 101 includes an intermediate transfer unit 70 that can be inserted and removed from the apparatus main body 101 and a process gantry unit 90 for image formation. The intermediate transfer unit 70 has an endless intermediate transfer belt 6.

  In order to form a color toner image based on image information on the intermediate transfer belt 6, the image forming unit 80 includes, for example, an image forming unit 10 </ b> Y having a yellow (Y) photosensitive drum 1 </ b> Y and a magenta (M) color. An image forming unit 10M having a photosensitive drum 1M for image, an image forming unit 10C having a photosensitive drum 1C for cyan (C) color, and an image forming unit 10K having a photosensitive drum 1K for black (K) color And two image forming units 10E and 10F for the special print mode.

  In the image forming unit 80, image formation processing is performed for each of the photosensitive drums 1E, 1F, 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K, and image formation processing is performed on the photosensitive drums 1E, 1F, 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K of the respective colors. The toner images of the respective colors are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 6 to form a full color image.

  In this example, the image forming unit 10Y includes a charger 2Y, an image writing unit 3Y, a developing unit 4Y, and a cleaning unit 8Y for the image forming body in addition to the photosensitive drum 1Y, and has a yellow (Y) color. A color image is formed. For example, the photosensitive drum 1Y is rotatably provided near the upper right portion of the intermediate transfer belt 6 and forms a Y color toner image. In this example, the photosensitive drum 1Y is rotated counterclockwise. A charger 2Y is provided on the lower right side of the photosensitive drum 1Y, and charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y to a predetermined potential.

  An image writing unit 3Y is provided almost directly beside the photosensitive drum 1Y, and has a predetermined intensity based on image data for Y color with respect to the photosensitive drum 1Y charged in advance. The exposed laser beam is scanned and exposed. A polygon mirror type laser exposure scanning apparatus is used for the image writing unit 3Y. An electrostatic latent image for Y color is formed on the photosensitive drum 1Y.

  A developing unit 4Y is provided above the image writing unit 3Y, and operates to develop a Y-color electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1Y. Hereinafter, an image obtained by developing an electrostatic latent image with a toner agent is referred to as a toner image. The Y-color toner image formed on the photoreceptor drum 1Y is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 6 by operating the primary transfer roller 7Y (primary transfer). A cleaning unit 8Y is provided below the left side of the photosensitive drum 1Y, and operates to remove (clean) the toner agent remaining on the photosensitive drum 1Y in the previous writing.

  In this example, an image forming unit 10M is provided below the image forming unit 10Y. The image forming unit 10M includes a photosensitive drum 1M, a charger 2M, an image writing unit 3M, a developing unit 4M, and a cleaning unit 8M for the image forming body, and forms a magenta (M) color image. An image forming unit 10C is provided below the image forming unit 10M. The image forming unit 10C includes a photosensitive drum 1C, a charger 2C, an image writing unit 3C, a developing unit 4C, and a cleaning unit 8C for the image forming body, and forms a cyan (C) color image.

  An image forming unit 10K is provided below the image forming unit 10C. The image forming unit 10K includes a photosensitive drum 1K, a charger 2K, an image writing unit 3K, a developing unit 4K, and a cleaning unit 8K for the image forming body, and forms a black (BK) color image. An organic photoconductor (OPC) drum is used as the photoconductor drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K.

  Note that the functions of the members of the image forming units 10M to 10K can be applied by replacing Y with M, C, and K for the same reference numerals of the image forming unit 10Y, and the description thereof will be omitted.

  Of the six image forming units 10E, 10F, 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K of the image forming unit 80 described above, six photosensitive drums excluding the six image writing units 3E, 3F, 3Y, 3M, 3C, and 3K 1E, 1F, 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K, 6 chargers 2E, 2F, 2Y, 2M, 2C, 2K, 6 developing units 4E, 4F, 4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K, for 6 image forming bodies The cleaning units 8E, 8F, 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K are mounted on the process base unit 90.

  In this example, in order to execute the special printing mode, the image forming unit 10E includes a photosensitive drum 1E, a charger 2E, an image writing unit 3E, a developing unit 4E, and a cleaning unit 8E for the image forming body. A special color image is formed. The image forming unit 10F includes a photosensitive drum 1F, a charger 2F, an image writing unit 3F, a developing unit 4F, and an image forming body cleaning unit 8F, and forms a color image of the second special color.

  The intermediate transfer unit 70 transfers the color image formed by the process gantry unit 90. In addition to the intermediate transfer belt 6, the intermediate transfer unit 70 includes a frame member 5 (see FIG. 2), primary transfer rollers 7E, 7F, 7Y, 7M, 7C, and 7K, an upper conveyance roller 72a, a tension roller 72b, and a lower conveyance roller 73a. And 73b. In addition to this, the intermediate transfer unit 70 includes an intermediate transfer belt back panel (hereinafter referred to as an intermediate transfer back panel 67: refer to FIG. 4) and an intermediate transfer belt front panel (hereinafter referred to as an intermediate transfer panel 68: refer to FIG. 6). Have.

  The frame member 5 has, for example, a rectangular shape, and primary transfer rollers 7E, 7F, 7Y, 7M, 7C, and 7K, upper transport rollers 72a and 72b, and a tension roller 72c are disposed at predetermined positions of the frame member 5, for example. Lower conveyance rollers 73a and 73b are attached. The intermediate transfer belt 6 is mounted endlessly in a state of including the upper transport rollers 72a and 72b, the tension roller 72c, and the lower transport rollers 73a and 73b.

  The intermediate transfer belt 6 superimposes the toner images transferred by the primary transfer rollers 7E, 7F, 7Y, 7M, 7C, and 7K, and transfers a color toner image (color image). The color image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 6 is conveyed toward the secondary transfer unit 71 as the intermediate transfer belt 6 rotates clockwise.

  A secondary transfer portion 71 is disposed below the intermediate transfer belt 6. The secondary transfer unit 71 is pressure-bonded to the intermediate transfer belt 6 and transfers a color image based on the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 6 to a transfer material (hereinafter referred to as paper P). In this example, a cleaning unit 8A is provided on the upper left side of the intermediate transfer belt 6 and operates to clean the toner agent remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 6 after the secondary transfer.

  In addition to the image forming unit 80, the color printer 100 includes a fixing device 17 and a paper supply unit 200. A sheet supply unit 200 is provided below the image forming unit 10K and includes a plurality of paper supply trays (not shown). A paper P of a predetermined size is accommodated in each paper feed tray. The paper supply unit 200 is configured to send a predetermined paper P to the secondary transfer unit 71.

  For example, conveyance rollers 22A to 22C, registration rollers 23, and the like are provided in a sheet conveyance path from the sheet supply unit 200 to the lower side of the image forming unit 10K. The registration roller 23 holds a predetermined sheet P fed from the sheet supply unit 200 via the conveyance rollers 22A to 22C in front of the secondary transfer unit 71, and sends it to the secondary transfer unit 71 in accordance with the image timing. To be made. The paper supply unit 200 is not limited to the paper feed tray provided below the image forming unit 10K, and a large paper feeder (not shown) is attached to the outside of the right side of the color printer 100, and this large paper feeder is used together. The paper P may be fed.

  The secondary transfer unit 71 transfers the color image carried on the intermediate transfer belt 6 to a predetermined paper P whose paper transport is controlled by the registration roller 23. A fixing device 17 is provided on the downstream side of the secondary transfer unit 71 to fix the paper P on which the color image has been transferred. The fixed sheet P is nipped by the sheet discharge roller 24 and discharged onto a sheet discharge tray (not shown) outside the apparatus.

  With reference to FIG. 2, an example of opening and closing of the intermediate transfer unit 70 according to the first embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the intermediate transfer unit 70 can be inserted into and removed from the apparatus main body 101 together with the process gantry unit 90, and can be opened and closed in a door-like manner with respect to the process gantry unit 90. .

  The intermediate transfer unit 70 shown in FIG. 2 is disposed near the center of the apparatus main body 101 when viewed from the front side adjacent to the process base unit 90. The intermediate transfer unit 70 is attached to a vertical door shape so as to be openable and closable via a rotary hinge 60 provided on the back side (rear side) of the process gantry unit 90. The rotary hinge 60 constitutes a rotation fulcrum between the intermediate transfer unit 70 and the process base unit 90 on the back side of the intermediate transfer unit 70. Of course, the rotation fulcrum is not limited to the back side of the process gantry unit 90, and may be set on the front side of the process gantry unit 90.

  In this example, the intermediate transfer unit 70 and the process mount unit 90 are temporarily fixed (one set) by the temporary fixing mechanism 20 (second embodiment) as shown in FIG. Can be inserted and removed from the outside (front side). After the intermediate transfer unit 70 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 101 to the outside (near side), when the intermediate transfer unit 70 is pulled from the process mount unit 90 with a pulling force that overcomes the urging force of the temporary fixing mechanism 20, the process mount unit 90 The intermediate transfer unit 70 can be freely opened and closed in the form of a vertical door via a rotary hinge 60 provided on the back side of the door.

  According to the color printer 100, the process base unit 90 for image formation that performs the insertion / removal operation from the apparatus main body 101 together with the intermediate transfer unit 70 is provided. Therefore, the process base unit 90 is extracted from the apparatus main body 101 and the process is performed. The intermediate transfer unit 70 can be opened and closed with respect to the gantry unit 90 in a door shape.

  Since the intermediate transfer unit 70 can be freely opened and closed in the form of a vertical door via a rotary hinge 60 provided on the back side of the process gantry unit 90, the intermediate transfer unit 70 can be opened without being lowered from the apparatus main body 101. The transfer belt 6 and the like can be exchanged.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 3, the structural example of the rotation hinge part 60 is demonstrated. The rotary hinge 60 shown in FIG. 3 is provided on the back side of the process gantry unit 90. The number is two or more. Arrangement positions are an upper part and a lower part on the back side of the process gantry unit 90, and preferably, they are also arranged on the middle stage on the back side. The plurality of rotary hinges 60 are provided because the intermediate transfer unit 70, which is large and heavy, is carried by a suspension source on one side. In the figure, reference numeral 67 denotes a middle inversion back panel.

  The rotary hinge 60 includes fulcrum support plates 61a and 61b, a bearing support member 62, bearings 63a and 63b, a rotary fulcrum shaft 64, and a swinging spring 65 for absorbing a positioning gap. The swinging spring 65 constitutes an example of a damper member. An urging member such as a spring coil is used for the swing spring 65. When stress is applied to the intermediate transfer unit 70 from the upper direction, the swing spring 65 swings so as to expand and contract in the vertical direction of the rotary hinge unit 60 and absorbs a gap during positioning.

  Each of the fulcrum support plates 61a and 61b and the bearing support member 62 is formed by cutting out, punching, and bending a sheet metal member having a predetermined thickness. The fulcrum support plates 61 a and 61 b have a predetermined shape and are attached to the back side of the process gantry unit 90. For example, the fulcrum support plates 61a and 61b are fixed to the process frame unit 90 by welding or bolts and nuts.

  The bearing support member 62 has a box shape and is provided with a shaft hole (a lower hole) (not shown) at the top and bottom. A bearing portion 63 a is attached to the shaft hole at the top of the bearing support member 62. A bearing portion 63 b is attached to the shaft hole at the bottom of the bearing support member 62. Bearings or the like are used for the bearing portions 63a and 63b.

  The rotation fulcrum shaft 64 has a predetermined outer diameter, and is passed through the bearing portion 63 a on the upper side of the bearing support member 62 and the bearing portion 63 b on the lower side of the bearing support member 62, and then the bearing support member 62. The swinging spring 65 is inserted into the lower part of the rotating shaft 65 and is attached in such a manner that the rotating fulcrum shaft 64 is sandwiched between the fulcrum support plates 61a and 61b. The rotation fulcrum shaft 64 is a non-rotating body. The swing spring 65 is attached to the rotary hinge 60 in the lower part (not shown) in addition to the rotary hinge 60 in the upper part, and also to the rotary hinge 60 in the middle part.

  The bearing support member 62 and the intermediate transfer unit 70 are connected via a pair of connection plates 69a and 69b having a predetermined thickness. In the figure, only the connection plate 69a is shown. For example, the bearing support member 62 and the connection plates 69a and 69b are firmly attached by the four engagement members 66a to 66d in such a manner that the bearing support member 62 is sandwiched between the connection plates 69a and 69b on one side. At that time, the engaging members 66 a to 66 d are skewered so as to penetrate the bearing support member 62 in a direction orthogonal to the rotation shaft fulcrum of the rotation fulcrum shaft 64.

  The connection plates 69a and 69b and the intermediate transfer unit 70 are firmly attached by the four engagement members 66e to 66h in such a manner that the frame member 5 of the intermediate transfer unit 70 is sandwiched between the connection plates 69a and 69b on the other side. It is done. For example, bolts and nuts are used for the engaging members 66a to 66h. Thus, the rotary hinge 60 at one place of the suspension source is configured.

  Since the other hinge hinge 60 of the suspension source is configured in the same manner, the description thereof is omitted. The above-described swinging spring 65 supports a load upon loading received by the through shaft as shown in FIG. 5 to load a complex (hereinafter referred to as a complex unit 201) composed of the intermediate transfer unit 70 and the process frame unit 90. And wear of the bearing portions 63a and 63b can be reduced.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 4, the example of a play setting in the rotation hinge part 60 is demonstrated. In the color printer 100 shown in FIG. 4, a play α (backlash) for adjusting the misalignment gap is set around the rotation fulcrum shaft 64 of the rotary hinge 60. The play α is a gap formed between the rotation fulcrum shaft 64 and the bearing portions 63a and 63b. When the play α is set around the rotation fulcrum shaft 64 of the rotary hinge 60, the upper and lower sides of the intermediate transfer unit 70 can be absorbed by the swinging spring 65, and a margin can be provided in the left and right and front and rear directions. When the play α for adjusting the misalignment gap is provided around the rotation fulcrum shaft 64 of the rotary hinge 60, the intermediate transfer unit 70 can be positioned with high accuracy by the through shafts 53 and 54 shown in FIG. Become.

  Next, an example of loading the composite unit 201 will be described with reference to FIG. In this example, the intermediate transfer unit 70 and the process gantry unit 90 constitute a composite unit 201, and both the drawing operation and the loading operation are integrated.

  The color printer 100 shown in FIG. 5 includes a positioning mechanism 99. The positioning mechanism 99 includes a plurality of positioning through shafts 53 and 54, through hole portions 83 and 84, and unit mold clamping fixtures 93 and 94. The apparatus main body 101 has a rear panel 107 and a front panel 108.

  The through shafts 53 and 54 are attached to predetermined positions of the rear panel 107. For example, one end of each of the through shafts 53 and 54 is fixed to a predetermined position of the rear panel 107 by welding or the like. The other end of each of the through shafts 53 and 54 is pointed, for example, in a conical shape so that the through holes 83 and 84 can be easily drawn.

  On the other hand, the intermediate transfer unit 70 has a pre-inversion panel 68 (front panel) and an inversion back panel 67. A positioning opening (not shown) is provided at a predetermined position of the pre-inversion panel 68 so that the distal ends of the through shafts 53 and 54 can be exposed. This opening part constitutes an example of a bearing part. For example, a female screw is formed inside the opening part for the bearing part.

  A position including the opening for the bearing portion of the pre-inversion panel 68 and each of the penetrating shafts 53 and 54, and between the inner inversion panel 67 and the pre-inversion panel 68, respectively. And the through-hole parts 83 and 84 are provided so that both ends may be bridged. For the through holes 83 and 84, a pipe member (pipe) having a predetermined inner diameter capable of including each of the through shafts 53 and 54 is used. One end of each of the through-hole portions 83 and 84 is attached to the intermediate rotation back panel 67, and the other end of each of the through-hole portions 83 and 84 is attached to the pre-inversion panel 68.

  When the composite unit 201 is loaded, the through shafts 53 and 54 are penetrated into the through hole portions 83 and 84 corresponding to the through shafts 53 and 54, respectively, and the tip portions thereof are for the bearing portion of the pre-inversion panel 68. It is made to be exposed from the opening part. A metal rod having a predetermined outer diameter is used for the through shafts 53 and 54.

  The fixtures 93 and 94 constitute an example of an engaging member, and are composed of, for example, a stepped columnar cylindrical cylinder having a convex section. One end of each of the fixtures 93 and 94 has a male screw that is screwed into a female screw formed inside the opening for the bearing portion of the pre-inversion panel 68. A hole portion is provided inside the periphery of the male screw, and the hole portion is processed so that the tip portions of the penetrating through shafts 53 and 54 can be inserted. Of course, a male screw may be formed at one end of each of the through shafts 53 and 54, and the fixtures 93 and 94 provided with a female screw that can be screwed into the male screw may be configured. These constitute the positioning mechanism 99.

  The process gantry unit 90 is placed on rail members 55, 56 a, and 56 b attached to predetermined positions of the apparatus main body 101. As the rail members 55, 56a, and 56b, telescopic slide rails are used. In this example, the process gantry unit 90 is slidably supported by three rail members 55, 56a, and 56b (see FIG. 6). The rail members 55, 56a, and 56b are attached to predetermined positions of an internal frame (not shown) of the apparatus main body 101 by screws or the like. The process gantry unit 90 includes rail members 51, 52a, 52b and roller members 57, 58 (see FIG. 7).

  The rail member 51 is slidably combined with the rail member 55 via a roller member 57. The rail member 52a is slidably combined with the rail member 56a via the roller member 58. Although not shown, the rail member 52b is slidably combined with the rail member 56b via the roller member 58. These constitute the color printer 100. In the figure, 20 is a temporary fixing mechanism and 21 is an opening restricting member. The temporary fixing mechanism 20 will be described in a second embodiment. The opening restriction member 21 will be described in the third and fourth embodiments.

  According to the color printer 100, the composite unit 201 including the intermediate transfer unit 70 and the process base unit 90 can be aligned with the apparatus main body 101 in a self-aligning manner. Moreover, it is not necessary to attach or detach the front panel 97 of the apparatus main body 101 serving as a positioning reference, and positioning stability is improved.

  Here, with reference to FIGS. 6-9, the handling example (the 1-3) of the composite unit 201 which concerns on a 1st Example is demonstrated. In this example, the intermediate transfer unit 70 is attached to the process gantry unit 90 so as to be freely openable and closable with respect to the process gantry unit 90 via a rotary hinge 60 provided on the back side of the process gantry unit 90. An example will be given in which the composite unit 201 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 101 and the intermediate transfer belt 6 of the intermediate transfer unit 70 is replaced.

  First, the fixtures 93 and 94 for unit mold clamping on the pre-inversion panel 68 shown in FIG. 6 are loosened, and the fixtures 93 and 94 are removed from the opening for the bearing portion of the pre-inversion panel 68. When the fixtures 93 and 94 are removed from the opening for the bearing portion, the end portions of the through shafts 53 and 54 are exposed.

  Next, the composite unit 201 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 101 to the outside as shown in FIG. 7 from the state in which the tip portions of the through shafts 53 and 54 shown in FIG. 6 are exposed. At this time, the process base unit 90 slidably supported by the rail members 51, 52a, 52b and the roller members 57, 58 on the three rail members 55, 56a, 56b is pulled out to the outside and integrated, The intermediate transfer unit 70 is pulled out (see FIG. 8).

  In this example, as shown in FIG. 7, the intermediate transfer unit 70 can be opened and closed from the state where the through-hole portions 83 and 84 have passed through the respective through-shafts 53 and 54. Preferably, it is desirable to move to the opening operation of the intermediate transfer unit 70 in a state where the composite unit 201 is sufficiently pulled out from the apparatus main body 101 to the outside as shown in FIG.

  This is for avoiding an opening operation from the process frame unit 90 to the intermediate transfer unit 70 with the rotary hinge 60 as a reference in a state where the through shafts 53 and 54 are inserted into the through holes 83 and 84, respectively. is there. The intermediate transfer unit 70 is temporarily fixed to the process frame unit 90 by the temporary fixing mechanism 20 at the time of this extraction and also after completion of the extraction.

  Then, an opening operation of the intermediate transfer unit 70 with respect to the process frame unit 90 shown in FIG. 9 is executed. At this time, holding a handle or the like (not shown) attached to a predetermined position of the intermediate transfer unit 70, the user operates to open the intermediate transfer unit 70 in the direction indicated by the white arrow, that is, the left side.

  At this time, an external force exceeding the holding force of the magnet member by the temporary fixing mechanism 20 is applied. Then, in the process frame unit 90, the intermediate transfer unit 70 is opened like a vertical door with reference to the rotary hinge 60, and the intermediate transfer unit 70 is released from the process frame unit 90. As a result, the intermediate transfer belt 6 can be replaced by the intermediate transfer unit 70 in the opened state.

  As described above, the color printer 100 according to the first embodiment includes the intermediate transfer unit 70 having a structure that can be inserted into and removed from the apparatus main body 101 and that can be opened and closed in a door shape while being a vertical type. The intermediate transfer unit 70 is attached to the process gantry unit 90 so as to be openable and closable with respect to the process gantry unit 90 via a rotary hinge 60 provided on the back side of the process gantry unit 90.

  This vertical door-like opening / closing structure allows the intermediate transfer unit 70 to be opened and closed in a door-like manner when the intermediate transfer unit 70 is extracted from the apparatus main body 101 when the belt is replaced. With the increase in size and weight, the intermediate transfer belt 6 and the like can be replaced without taking down the intermediate transfer unit 70 that is difficult to remove from the apparatus main body 101. In addition, the operator can look over the entire unit while standing, and it is easy to introduce (access) manual operations to both sides of the unit, and to the front and rear, so that the maintainability can be greatly improved.

  In addition, according to the first embodiment, by including the positioning mechanism 99, it is not necessary to attach and detach the front panel 97 serving as a positioning reference, and positioning stability is improved. Further, since the play α is provided in the vertical and horizontal directions of the rotary hinge 60, the unit positioning by the through shafts 53 and 54 can be made highly accurate. In addition, since the swinging spring 65 supports the load when the composite unit 201 received by the through shafts 53 and 54 is loaded, it is possible to reduce the ease of loading and the wear of the bearing portions 63a and 63b.

  In the color printer 100 according to the first embodiment, the intermediate transfer unit 70 has a vertical door shape with respect to the process frame unit 90 via the rotary hinge 60 provided on the back side of the process frame unit 90. Although the case where it was attached so that opening and closing was possible was demonstrated, it is not restricted to this.

  For example, a rotary hinge 60 is provided on the front side of the process gantry unit 90, an intermediate transfer unit 70 is attached to the rotary hinge 60, and the intermediate transfer unit 70 can be opened and closed in a vertical door shape with respect to the process gantry unit 90. You may attach so that it may become. Even when such an attachment method is adopted, the intermediate transfer belt 6 and the like can be exchanged without lowering the intermediate transfer unit 70 from the apparatus main body 101.

  Next, the temporary fixing mechanism 20 in the color printer 100 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The color printer 100 shown in FIG. 10 has a structure in which the intermediate transfer unit 70 is inserted into and removed from the apparatus main body 101 together with the process base unit 90 and can be opened and closed like a door while maintaining the vertical shape. The temporary fixing mechanism 20 is provided between the intermediate transfer unit 70 and the intermediate transfer unit 70.

  The temporary fixing mechanism 20 is disposed, for example, near the center of the complex unit 201 in a state where the intermediate transfer unit 70 is closed with respect to the process gantry unit 90. In this example, the temporary fixing mechanism 20 is on a boundary line formed by one end of the pre-transition panel 68 and one end of the front panel 98 of the process gantry unit 90 in a state where the intermediate transfer unit 70 is closed with respect to the process gantry unit 90. It is arranged.

  Next, a configuration example of the temporary fixing mechanism 20 will be described with reference to FIG. The temporary fixing mechanism 20 shown in FIG. 11 includes a magnet 25, a suction plate 26, and an attachment base 205.

  The magnet 25 constitutes an example of a magnetic member, and is attached to the attachment base 205 through the position adjusting screws 29a and 29b so as to absorb the displacement. The magnet 25 may be made of any material as long as it has a predetermined magnetic force. The attachment base 205 has a predetermined shape and is attached to the front panel 98 of the process gantry unit 90 so that its position can be adjusted. The mounting base 205 is created by cutting, punching and bending a sheet metal member.

  In this example, the fixing base 205 is movable to the left and right (front and rear) sides with respect to the unit suction direction with respect to the long hole portions 91 and 92 opened in the front panel 98, with fixing screw members 27a and 27b. It is attached. Here, the unit suction direction refers to a direction in which the intermediate transfer unit 70 is sucked with reference to the process frame unit 90.

  The long hole portions 91 and 92 have a play β (backlash) for adjusting the misalignment gap with respect to the screw members 27a and 27b. The play β is the length of the long hole portions 91 and 92 in the longitudinal direction, and is set to be several times the outer diameter of the screw members 27a and 27b. The play β is set in the unit attracting direction, and when the misalignment gap is absorbed, the attachment base 205 to which the magnet 25 is attached moves by the misalignment amount.

  On the other hand, the suction plate 26 has an L-shaped cross section and is attached to the intermediate transfer panel 70 before the intermediate transfer unit 68. The attracting plate 26 is, for example, two fixed positions at a position facing the magnet 25 and in the vicinity of a boundary line formed by one end of the pre-inversion panel 68 and one end of the front panel 98 of the process frame unit 90. Are screwed to the pre-inversion panel 68 via the screws 28a and 28b. These constitute the temporary fixing mechanism 20.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 12A and 12B, the operation example of the temporary fix | stop mechanism 20 is demonstrated. In this example, when the unit is housed, the intermediate transfer unit 70 is temporarily fixed to the process frame unit 90 by the temporary fixing mechanism 20 until the composite unit 201 is fixed to the apparatus main body 101 by the fixtures 93 and 94. The function that can be placed is demonstrated.

  According to the color printer 100 shown in FIG. 12A, the intermediate transfer unit 70 shown in FIG. 9 is closed from the opened state, and is in a state immediately before the closing operation is completed. In this state, the magnet 25 attracts the attracting plate 26. 12B, the magnet 25 and the attracted plate 26 are attracted. The intermediate transfer unit 70 is temporarily fixed to the process frame unit 90.

  In this state, in the intermediate transfer unit 70 shown in FIG. 7, the through hole 83 is inserted into the through shaft 53, and the through hole 84 is inserted into the through shaft 54. Further, when the adsorbed composite unit 201 is pushed into the back side of the apparatus main body 101, the loaded state shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is obtained. The front end portions of the through shafts 53 and 54 are exposed to the corresponding opening portions for the bearing portions in the pre-inversion panel 68.

  Thereafter, the fixtures 93 and 94 are attached to the opening portion for the bearing portion of the pre-inversion panel 68 to perform unit clamping. At that time, the tip portions of the penetrating shafts 53 and 54 that are pointed conically are inserted into the respective hole portions of the fixtures 93 and 94, and automatic centering (positioning) is performed. In addition, the magnet 25 moves in a self-aligning manner so that the adjustment function of the temporary fixing mechanism 20 works to absorb the misalignment gap in the unit attracting direction. Thus, the loading of the composite unit 201 into the apparatus main body 101 is completed.

  As described above, according to the color printer 100 according to the second embodiment, the intermediate transfer having a structure in which the process base unit 90 and the apparatus main body 101 are both inserted and removed and can be opened and closed in a vertical shape. A unit 70 is provided, and a temporary fixing mechanism 20 is provided between the process frame unit 90 and the intermediate transfer unit 70, and the temporary fixing mechanism 20 has a play β for adjusting a misalignment gap.

  Due to the play structure for adjusting the positional deviation gap, when the composite unit 201 composed of the intermediate transfer unit 70 and the process frame unit 90 is loaded into the apparatus main body 101, the intermediate transfer belt 6 serves as a rough guide. In addition, it is possible to avoid interference between the photosensitive drums 1E, 1F, 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K, and interference between the apparatus main body 101 and the intermediate transfer unit 70 and the like.

  Next, the stopper link mechanism 30 in the color printer 100 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In this example, when the intermediate transfer unit 70 described in the first to second embodiments is opened, the pressing member 31 is rotated by applying the rotational force of the rotary hinge 603 to interfere with the apparatus main body 101. The pressing member 31 protrudes from the position where the intermediate transfer belt 6 is included.

  A color printer 100 shown in FIG. 13A includes a pressing member 31 and a stopper link mechanism 30 that constitutes an example of a first link mechanism in addition to the intermediate transfer unit 70 described in the first to second embodiments. is doing. The stopper link mechanism 30 includes rotation transmission gears 32 and 34, gear fixing pins 33 and 35, arm support bearings 36 and 38, and an arm support shaft 37 (rotation shaft) to constitute an interlocking unit.

  The pressing member 31 constitutes an example of the opening movement regulating member 21 shown in FIG. 9 and regulates the opening movement amount of the intermediate transfer unit 70. For example, the pressing member 31 is a position that interferes with the apparatus main body 101 when the intermediate transfer unit 70 is opened with respect to the apparatus main body 101 described in the first to second embodiments, and includes the intermediate transfer belt 6. It is made to protrude from the position to do.

  A rotating hinge portion 603 shown in FIG. 14 constitutes an interlocking portion, and operates to project the pressing member 31 in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the intermediate transfer unit 70. The rotation transmission gear 32 is attached to the rotation fulcrum shaft 64 of the rotation hinge portion 603. The rotation transmission gear 32 has a shaft hole (not shown). A rotation fulcrum shaft 64 is passed through the shaft hole, and is fixed to the rotation fulcrum shaft 64 by a gear fixing pin 33.

  The arm support bearing portion 36 is attached to the side surface of the bearing support member 62 that is orthogonal to the rotation fulcrum shaft 64 at the rotary hinge portion 603. In the arm support bearing portion 36, one end of an arm support shaft 37 (rotary shaft) is rotatably supported. A rotation transmission gear 34 is attached to one end of the arm support shaft 37. The arm support bearing portion 36 is attached so as to extend from the side surface of the bearing support member 62 to the intermediate transfer back panel 67.

  Bevel gears are used for the rotation transmission gears 32 and 34. The gear ratio of the rotation transmission gears 32 and 34 is 1: 1. The rotation transmission gears 32 and 34 change the rotation axis direction of the rotation fulcrum shaft 64 to the orthogonal rotation axis direction without changing the gear ratio. A bevel gear is used as the rotation transmission gear 34. The rotation transmission gear 34 has a shaft hole (not shown). One end of an arm support shaft 37 is attached to the shaft hole, and is fixed to the arm support shaft 37 by a gear fixing pin 35.

  On the other hand, the other end of the arm support shaft 37 penetrates through the pre-inversion panel 68 as shown in FIG. An opening (not shown) is provided in a portion of the pre-inversion panel 68 through which the other end of the arm support shaft 37 passes, and an arm support bearing 38 is attached to the opening. In the arm support bearing portion 38, the other end of the arm support shaft 37 is rotatably supported. A pressing member 31 having a shape as shown in FIG. 13B is attached to the other end of the arm support shaft 37. Accordingly, the stopper link mechanism 30 is configured, and the pressing member 31 is rotated by the rotational force of the rotation fulcrum shaft 64.

  Then, with reference to FIGS. 15-17, the operation example (the 1-3) of the stopper link mechanism 30 is demonstrated. In this example, when the intermediate transfer unit 70 is opened, the stopper link mechanism 30 connects and drives the pressing member 31 so that the opening of the intermediate transfer unit 70 is limited to the position just before contacting the apparatus main body 101. did.

  Under these operating conditions, according to the stopper link mechanism 30 shown in FIG. 15, the intermediate transfer unit 70 is closed. In this state, as shown in FIG. 8, the composite unit 201 composed of the intermediate transfer unit 70 and the process base unit 90 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 101 and the intermediate transfer unit 70 can be opened. In this state, the transfer unit 70 has not been opened.

  According to the stopper link mechanism 30 shown in FIG. 16, the intermediate transfer unit 70 shown in FIG. 15 is half-opened from the closed state. For example, the angle θ in the figure is 60 °. The angle θ is an angle between the closed position of the intermediate transfer unit 70 and a position where the intermediate transfer unit 70 is arbitrarily opened when the intermediate transfer unit 70 is closed.

  The rotary hinge portion 603 converts the unit rotation angle into the rotational movement amount of the pressing member 31 by connecting and driving the rotation fulcrum shaft 64 and the pressing member 31 by the stopper link mechanism 30. As a result, the pressing member 31 also rotates by an angle θ = 60 °. That is, the stopper link mechanism 30 connects and drives the pressing member 31 based on the angle θ for opening the intermediate transfer unit 70, so that the pressing member 31 also rotates by the angle θ (see FIG. 13).

  According to the stopper link mechanism 30 shown in FIG. 17, the intermediate transfer unit 70 is further rotated from the state of the angle θ = 60 ° shown in FIG. 16 so that the intermediate transfer unit 70 is fully opened (θ = 90 °). It is in the state. At this time, since the pressing member 31 protrudes from the frame member 5 and contacts the apparatus main body 101, the opening of the intermediate transfer unit 70 is restricted at a position just before the pressing member 31 contacts the apparatus main body 101. Thereby, the intermediate transfer belt 6 can be protected.

  As described above, according to the color printer 100 according to the third embodiment, the intermediate transfer having a structure in which the process base unit 90 and the apparatus main body 101 are both inserted and removed and can be opened and closed in a vertical shape. The unit 70 includes the stopper link mechanism 30, and the pressing member 31 is connected and driven by the stopper link mechanism 30, thereby restricting the opening amount of the intermediate transfer unit 70.

  With this restriction structure, when the intermediate transfer unit 70 is opened with respect to the apparatus main body 101, the opening position of the intermediate transfer unit 70 can be limited by limiting the position immediately before contacting the apparatus main body 101. Interference between the apparatus main body 101 and the intermediate transfer unit 70 can be avoided without causing an obstacle. In addition, since the pressing member 31 protrudes from the position including the intermediate transfer belt 6 and exhibits a stopper function, the intermediate transfer belt 6 can be protected when the intermediate transfer unit 70 is opened.

  A configuration example of the stopper link mechanism 40 of the color printer 100 according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In this example, when the intermediate transfer unit 70 described in the first to second embodiments is opened, the principle of the lever is applied by the rotational force of the rotary hinge portion 604, and the pressing member 41 is moved to move the apparatus main body. The pressing member 41 protrudes from a position that interferes with the portion 101 and includes the intermediate transfer belt 6.

  A color printer 100 shown in FIG. 18A includes a pressing member 41 and a stopper link mechanism 40 that constitutes an example of a second link mechanism in addition to the intermediate transfer unit 70 described in the first to second embodiments. is doing. The stopper link mechanism 40 includes a stopper pin 42, a rotation fulcrum portion 43, arm support receiving portions 46 and 48, and an arm member 47 to constitute a connection driving portion. In this example, the stopper link mechanism 40 moves the pressing member 41 to the unit interference limit position. Here, the unit interference limit position refers to a position that becomes a limit when the intermediate transfer belt 6 interferes with the apparatus main body 101 when the intermediate transfer unit 70 is opened.

  The pressing member 41 constitutes another example of the opening movement regulating member 21 shown in FIG. 9 and regulates the opening movement amount of the intermediate transfer unit 70. For example, the pressing member 41 is a position that interferes with the apparatus main body 101 when the intermediate transfer unit 70 is opened with respect to the apparatus main body 101 described in the first to second embodiments, and includes the intermediate transfer belt 6. It is made to protrude from the position to do.

  A rotating hinge portion 604 shown in FIG. 18A constitutes a linkage driving portion, and operates to project the pressing member 41 in linkage with the opening / closing operation of the intermediate transfer unit 70. A stopper pin 42 as shown in FIG. 19 is attached to the rotation fulcrum shaft 64 of the rotary hinge 604. For example, the rotation fulcrum shaft 64 is provided with a pin hole (not shown), the stopper pin 42 is inserted into the pin hole, and the stopper pin 42 is fixed to the rotation fulcrum shaft 64.

  The arm support receiving portion 46 is attached to the side surface of the bearing support member 62 that is orthogonal to the rotation fulcrum shaft 64 at the rotary hinge portion 604. In the arm support receiving portion 46, one end of the arm member 47 (balance bar) is processed into a thin rod shape. One end of the arm member 47 processed into the thin rod shape is brought into contact with the stopper pin 42 and moved. The arm support receiving portion 46 is formed of a long hole portion, extends from the side surface of the bearing support member 62 to the intermediate transfer back panel 67, and the narrow end portion of the arm member 47 is slidably engaged.

  In this example, the substantially central portion of the arm member 47 shown in FIG. 18A is pressed. A shaft hole (not shown) is provided in the central portion of the arm member 47 that has been press-worked to form a rotation fulcrum portion 43. The rotation fulcrum part 43 includes an arm fulcrum member 43a, an arm regulating spring 43b, a fixing member 43c, and a swinging spring 43d. The arm fulcrum member 43a has a bar-like portion and is attached to a predetermined position of the frame member 5.

  The rod-shaped part of the arm fulcrum member 43a is passed through the arm regulating spring 43b and further through a shaft hole (not shown) in the central part of the arm member 47. The arm regulating spring 43b biases the arm member 47 in a predetermined direction. The rod-shaped part of the arm fulcrum member 43a is fixed by a fixing member 43c. As a result, the arm member 47 can freely rotate with reference to the rotation fulcrum 43.

  On the other hand, the other end of the arm member 47 passes through the pre-inversion panel 68. A long hole portion (not shown) is provided in a portion of the pre-inversion panel 68 through which the other end of the arm member 47 passes, and this long hole portion constitutes an arm support receiving portion 48. In the arm support receiving portion 48, the other end of the arm member 47 is slidably engaged. A pressing member 41 having a shape (weight) as shown in FIG. 18B is attached to the other end of the arm member 47. Thus, the stopper link mechanism 40 is configured, and the pressing member 41 is moved in a predetermined direction by the stopper pin 42 of the rotation fulcrum shaft 64.

  Next, an operation example (parts 1 to 3) of the stopper link mechanism 40 of the color printer 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. In this example, when the intermediate transfer unit 70 is opened, the stopper link mechanism 40 connects and drives the pressing member 41 so that the opening of the intermediate transfer unit 70 is limited to the position just before contacting the apparatus main body 101. did.

  Under these operating conditions, the intermediate transfer unit 70 is closed according to the stopper link mechanism 40 shown in FIG. In this state, as shown in FIG. 8, the composite unit 201 composed of the intermediate transfer unit 70 and the process base unit 90 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 101 and the intermediate transfer unit 70 can be opened. In this state, the transfer unit 70 has not been opened.

  According to the stopper link mechanism 40 shown in FIG. 21, the intermediate transfer unit 70 shown in FIGS. 18 and 20 is half-opened from the closed state. For example, the angle θ in the figure is 60 °. The angle θ is an angle between the closed position of the intermediate transfer unit 70 and a position where the intermediate transfer unit 70 is arbitrarily opened when the intermediate transfer unit 70 is closed.

  The rotary hinge portion 604 is a lever principle by the stopper link mechanism 40 by the rotational force of the rotation fulcrum shaft 64, that is, the contact portion formed by the stopper pin 42 and the end of the arm member 47 is the force point, and the rotation fulcrum portion 43 is By applying the mechanical state with the fulcrum and the pressing member 41 as the action point, the pressing member 41 is moved to convert the rotational movement of the intermediate transfer unit 70 into the protruding movement amount of the pressing member 41.

  In this example, when the intermediate transfer unit 70 is rotated by an angle θ = 60 °, unlike the pressing member 31 shown in the third embodiment, the pressing member 41 does not show any change. That is, in the stopper link mechanism 40, the arm support receiving portion 46 is in a state where the stopper pin 42 has not yet reached one end of the arm member 47. From this state, the user further opens the intermediate transfer unit 70.

  According to the stopper link mechanism 40 shown in FIG. 22, the intermediate transfer unit 70 is opened from the state of the angle θ = 60 ° shown in FIG. 21 so that the intermediate transfer unit 70 is fully opened (θ = 90 °). It is in the state just before. At this time, in the arm support receiving portion 46, the stopper pin 42 reaches one end of the arm member 47, and the stopper pin 42 comes into contact with one end of the arm member 47.

  In this example, when a contact force that overcomes the urging force of the swinging spring 43 d is applied from the stopper pin 42 to the arm member 47, the stopper pin 42 moves on one end of the arm member 47. Due to this movement, the pressing member 41 protrudes from the frame member 5 and comes into contact with the apparatus main body 101 so that the opening of the intermediate transfer unit 70 can be restricted at a position just before the pressing member 41 contacts the apparatus main body 101. Become.

  As described above, according to the color printer 100 according to the fourth embodiment, the intermediate transfer having a structure in which the process base unit 90 and the apparatus main body 101 are both inserted and removed and can be opened and closed in a vertical shape. The stopper link mechanism 40 that includes the unit 70 and constitutes the coupling drive unit moves the pressing member 41 to the unit interference limit position.

  With this restricting structure, when the intermediate transfer unit 70 is opened with respect to the apparatus main body 101, the opening of the intermediate transfer unit 70 can be limited to the position just before contacting the apparatus main body 101. In addition, interference between the apparatus main body 101 and the intermediate transfer unit 70 can be avoided. In addition, the intermediate transfer belt 6 can be protected when the intermediate transfer unit 70 is opened.

  With reference to FIG. 23, an example of opening and closing the process frame unit 95 of the color printer 500 according to the fifth embodiment will be described. A color printer 500 shown in FIG. 23 includes an intermediate transfer unit 75, a process frame unit 95, and an apparatus main body unit 105. The process frame unit 95 includes an intermediate transfer unit 75 and an intermediate transfer unit 75, as in the first to fourth embodiments. The apparatus body 105 has a structure that can be inserted and removed together and can be opened and closed in a door shape while maintaining a vertical shape.

  The apparatus main body unit 105 includes an image forming process mount unit 95 that can be inserted and removed from the apparatus main body unit 105, and an intermediate transfer unit 75 that performs both the insertion and removal operations. The process gantry unit 95 is mounted inside the apparatus main body 105 to form a color image. The intermediate transfer unit 75 transfers the color image formed by the process frame unit 95. The process gantry unit 95 has a structure that can be inserted and removed from both the intermediate transfer unit 75 and the apparatus main body 105 and can be opened and closed like a door while maintaining a vertical shape.

  In this example, a pair of rail members 52 b (only one is shown) is provided below the intermediate transfer unit 75, and a rail member (not shown) is provided on the left side of the intermediate transfer unit 75. A rotary hinge 60 as described with reference to FIG. 3 is provided on the back side of the intermediate transfer unit 75, and a process frame unit 95 is attached to the rotary hinge 60. Unlike the first to fourth embodiments, the process frame unit 95 is attached to the intermediate transfer unit 75 via the rotary hinge 60 so as to be openable and closable (vertical door-like opening / closing structure). ).

  By adopting this vertical door-like opening / closing structure, the photosensitive drums 1E, 1F, 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K and the like can be exchanged without taking down the process frame unit 95 from the apparatus main body 105. Of course, the temporary fixing mechanism 20 described in the second embodiment and the stopper link mechanisms 30 and 40 described in the third and fourth embodiments may be applied to the process frame unit 95.

  As described above, the color printer 500 according to the fifth embodiment includes the image forming process mount unit 95 that can be inserted and removed from the apparatus main body 105. The process mount unit 95 includes the intermediate transfer unit 75 and the apparatus main body. It has a structure that can be inserted and removed from the portion 105 and can be opened and closed like a door while maintaining a vertical shape. With this structure, when the photosensitive drum 1E or 1F, 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K or the like is replaced, the process mount unit 95 is removed from the intermediate transfer unit 75 with the process mount unit 95 extracted from the apparatus main body 105. Can be opened and closed in a door-like manner, so that the photosensitive drum 1E or 1F, 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K can be opened without taking down the process stand unit 95, which is difficult to remove, from the apparatus main body 105 by increasing the size of the color printer 500. Etc. can be exchanged.

  In the color printer 500, the process frame unit 95 is attached to the intermediate transfer unit 75 in a vertical door shape so as to be freely opened and closed via the rotary hinge 60 provided on the back side of the intermediate transfer unit 75. Although explained, it is not limited to this.

  For example, a rotary hinge unit 60 is provided on the front side of the intermediate transfer unit 75, a process frame unit 95 is attached to the rotary hinge unit 60, and the process frame unit 95 can be opened and closed in a vertical door shape with respect to the intermediate transfer unit 75. You may attach so that it may become. Even when such an attachment method is adopted, the photosensitive drums 1E, 1F, 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K and the like can be exchanged without taking down the process frame unit 95 from the apparatus main body 105.

  The present invention is extremely suitable when applied to a vertical tandem type color printer or color copier having a large intermediate transfer unit to form a color image, a color complex machine thereof, or the like.

1E, 1F, 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K Photosensitive drum (image forming unit)
2E, 2F, 2Y, 2M, 2C, 2K charger (image forming unit)
3E, 3F, 3Y, 3M, 3C, 3K Image writing unit (image forming unit)
4E, 4F, 4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K Development unit (image forming unit)
6 Intermediate transfer belt (image forming part)
7E, 7F, 7Y, 7M, 7C, 7K Primary transfer roller 8E, 8F, 8A, 8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K Cleaning unit 10E, 10F, 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K Image forming unit (image forming unit)
17 Fixing device 60, 603, 604 Rotating hinge unit 70, 75 Intermediate transfer unit 71 Secondary transfer unit 80 Image forming unit 90, 95 Process base unit 100 Color printer 101, 105 Main unit 200 Paper supply unit

Claims (3)

The device body,
A process gantry unit mounted inside the apparatus main body to form a color image;
An intermediate transfer unit for transferring the color image formed by the process gantry unit;
The intermediate transfer unit is
The process base unit and the apparatus main body are both inserted and removed, and have a structure that can be opened and closed in a door-like shape while being vertical.
A temporary fixing mechanism is provided between the process gantry unit and the intermediate transfer unit,
The color image forming apparatus, wherein the temporary fixing mechanism has a play for adjusting a misalignment gap. The temporary fixing mechanism is
A magnetic member that is provided in the process frame unit and adsorbs the intermediate transfer unit;
When the direction of sucking the intermediate transfer unit is the unit suction direction,
The magnetic member is
The color image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a play for adjusting a misalignment gap in the unit suction direction. The temporary fixing mechanism is
The color image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the color image forming apparatus has an adjustment function of adjusting a positional deviation gap in the unit suction direction.

Images