JP2014016522A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily detach a cartridge support from an apparatus body.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus (color printer 1) comprises: a cartridge support that supports a cartridge, and is configured to move between an inner position where the cartridge support is located inside an apparatus body and an external position where at least a part of the cartridge support is located outside the apparatus body; an exposure member (LED unit 40) that exposes a photoreceptor drum, configured to move between a proximity position in the proximity of the photoreceptor drum and a separation position separated from the photoreceptor drum, and has an engaging part at an end in an axial direction of the photoreceptor drum; and an engaged part 210 engaged with the engaging part. The image forming apparatus further comprises a linear motion cam member 200 that is configured to move linearly in a direction of movement of the cartridge support associating with movement of a cover (front cover 3). The linear motion cam member 200, when the cover is at a closing position, causes the exposure member to be located at the proximity position, and when the cover is at an opening position, causes the exposure member to be located at the separation position.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus in which an exposure member is disposed in the vicinity of a photosensitive drum.

  Conventionally, a configuration is known in which an image forming unit having a plurality of cartridges is slidable from an apparatus main body and can be pulled out (Patent Document 1). In the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, an exposure member formed by arranging a plurality of light emitting units composed of LEDs (light emitting diodes) is disposed in the vicinity of the photosensitive drum. In the image forming apparatus of this type, since the exposure member becomes an obstacle when the image forming unit is pulled out from the apparatus main body, it is necessary to retract the exposure member from the moving area of the image forming unit.

  For this reason, in the image forming apparatus of Patent Document 1, the exposure member is supported by the upper cover of the image forming unit, and the upper cover can be moved up and down. When the image forming unit is pulled out from the apparatus main body, the upper cover is lifted upward and the front cover on the front side of the image forming unit is opened.

JP 2008-275805 A

  However, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to perform both an operation of lifting the upper cover and an operation of opening the front cover before pulling out the image forming unit, and there is a problem that it takes time to pull out the image forming unit. .

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that an image forming unit including a cartridge support that supports a plurality of cartridges can be easily detached from an apparatus main body.

  The present invention for solving the problems includes an apparatus main body having an opening, a cover movable to a closed position for closing the opening and an open position for opening, a cartridge for storing a developer, and a cartridge for supporting the cartridge. A cartridge support configured to move through an opening between an internal position located within and an external position located at least partially outside the apparatus body; and exposing the photosensitive drum in proximity to the photosensitive drum An exposure member having an engaging portion at an axial end of the photosensitive drum and an engaged portion engaging with the engaging portion are configured to move to a proximity position and a separating position separated from the photosensitive drum. An image forming apparatus comprising a linear cam member configured to move linearly in the moving direction of the cartridge support in conjunction with the movement of the cover. In this image forming apparatus, the linear motion cam member is configured to position the exposure member in the close position when the cover is in the closed position and to position the exposure member in the separated position when the cover is in the open position. .

  According to such a configuration, when the cover is moved from the closed position to the open position, the linear cam member moves linearly in the arrangement direction of the photosensitive drums in conjunction with the operation of the cover. Then, the movement of the linear cam member can move the exposure member at the close position to the separation position, so that the cartridge support is moved from the internal position to the external position only by opening the cover. Can do.

  In the above-described image forming apparatus, the engaged portion includes an inclined portion extending inclined with respect to the moving direction of the linear motion cam, and a pressing portion for maintaining the exposure member at a close position and pressing the exposure member against the photosensitive drum. And a separation portion for maintaining the exposure member at the separation position.

  According to such a configuration, the exposure member can be smoothly moved between the proximity position and the separation position by the inclined portion. In addition, the exposure member can be reliably placed in the proximity position by the pressing portion.

  In the above-described image forming apparatus, it is desirable that the exposure member is outside the moving region of the cartridge support at the separated position.

  According to such a configuration, when the cartridge support is moved between the internal position and the external position, the cartridge support and the exposure member do not interfere with each other, so that the cartridge support can be moved smoothly, The exposure member is not damaged.

  In the above-described image forming apparatus, a developing roller supported by the cartridge support for supplying the developer to the photosensitive drum, a driving position for supplying driving force to at least one of the developing roller and the photosensitive drum, and a driving position And a drive transmission unit that moves in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum and is movable between a non-drive position separated from the cartridge support. At this time, the linear cam member may be configured such that when the cover is in the closed position, the drive transmission unit is positioned at the drive position, and when the cover is in the open position, the drive transmission unit is positioned at the non-drive position. desirable.

  According to such a configuration, the linear motion cam can be provided with two functions of movement of the exposure member and movement of the drive transmission unit. Reduction can be achieved.

  In the above-described image forming apparatus, it is desirable that the exposure member has an interval holding member that keeps an interval between the exit surface that emits light for exposure and the photosensitive drum constant.

  According to this, it is possible to form a good image on the photosensitive drum with a constant distance between the exit surface for emitting light for exposure of the exposure member and the photosensitive drum.

  In the image forming apparatus having the spacing member, it is desirable to have a biasing member that biases the exposure member toward the photosensitive drum.

  According to this, it is possible to make the interval between the exit surface that emits light for exposure of the exposure member and the photosensitive drum more accurately constant.

  The image forming apparatus described above preferably further includes a cable connected to the exposure member, and a covering member that covers the cable and can be expanded and contracted in the moving direction of the exposure member.

  According to such a configuration, since the cable is protected by the covering member, it is possible to prevent the user's hand from being caught by the cable during maintenance after removing the cartridge support.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to move the cartridge support from the internal position to the external position only by opening the cover, and the cartridge support can be easily detached.

It is sectional drawing of the color printer which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a figure of the LED unit in a proximity position. It is a figure of the LED unit in a separation position. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the color printer with an image forming unit removed. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the color printer when the front cover is opened with the image forming unit removed. It is the perspective view which looked at the linear motion cam from the outer side. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the color printer in a state where the image forming unit is pulled out after the front cover is opened.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In the following description, the direction will be described with reference to the user when using the color printer. That is, in FIG. 1, the left side toward the paper surface is “front side”, the right side toward the paper surface is “rear side”, the rear side toward the paper surface is “left side”, and the front side toward the paper surface is “right side”. To do. In addition, the vertical direction toward the page is defined as the “vertical direction”.

<Schematic configuration of color printer>
As shown in FIG. 1, a color printer 1 as an example of an image forming apparatus includes a paper feeding unit 20 that supplies paper S and a paper S that is fed into a main body housing 2 as an example of an apparatus main body. An image forming unit 30 that forms an image and a paper discharge unit 90 that discharges the paper S on which the image is formed are provided.

  The main body housing 2 has an opening 2A on the front side, and a front cover 3 as an example of a cover for opening and closing the opening 2A is provided. The front cover 3 is rotatably supported at its lower end, and is movable between a closed position for closing the opening 2A and an open position for opening the opening 2A (see FIG. 5) shown in FIG. . Further, the main body housing 2 has a paper discharge tray 5 on which an image-formed sheet S is accumulated.

  The paper feeding unit 20 is provided in the lower part of the main body housing 2, and is a paper feeding tray 21 that is detachably attached to the main body housing 2, and a paper that conveys the paper S from the paper feeding tray 21 to the image forming unit 30. A supply mechanism 22 is mainly provided. In the paper supply unit 20, the sheets S in the paper supply tray 21 are separated one by one and sent upward, turned backward through the conveyance path 23, and supplied to the image forming unit 30.

  The image forming unit 30 mainly includes an image forming unit 100, four LED units 40 as an example of an exposure member, a transfer unit 70, and a fixing unit 80.

  The image forming unit 100 includes a plurality of photosensitive drums 61, a plurality of chargers 62 provided to face the respective photosensitive drums 61, a plurality of developing cartridges 50 as an example of the cartridge, the photosensitive drums 61, And a holder 110 as an example of a cartridge support for arranging and supporting the container 62 and the developing cartridge 50 in the front-rear direction. Four photosensitive drums 61, chargers 62, and developing cartridges 50 are provided according to the number of toner colors used in the color printer 1.

  The holder 110 is supported by rails (not shown) extending in the front-rear direction provided on the left and right side walls 4 (only one shown in FIG. 1) of the main body housing 2, thereby arranging the developing cartridge 50 and the photosensitive drum 61. It can move in the direction, that is, the front-rear direction. Specifically, the holder 110 is movable through an opening 2A between an internal position located within the main body housing 2 and an external position (see FIG. 7) partially located outside the apparatus main body. .

  As is well known, the developing cartridge 50 includes a cartridge case 51, a developing roller 52, a supply roller 53, and a layer thickness regulating blade 54. The cartridge case 51 constitutes a toner storage chamber 58 that stores toner as an example of a developer. The developing cartridge 50 is detachable from above with respect to the holder 110 at the external position (see FIG. 7). Although not shown, the developing cartridge 50 is provided with a coupling joint for inputting a driving force to the developing roller 52 on the side wall at the axial end of the developing roller 52. Similarly, the photosensitive drum 61 is provided with a coupling joint at the axial end portion of the photosensitive drum 61 for inputting driving force.

  The LED unit 40 is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of photosensitive drums 61, and has a light emitting portion for exposing the photosensitive drum 61 on the lower emission surface 41A (see FIG. 2). In use, each LED unit 40 is close to the corresponding photosensitive drum 61 from directly above, and between this proximity position and a spaced position (see FIG. 5) spaced upward from the photosensitive drum 61. Is movable. A configuration for this movement will be described later. In the separated position, the LED unit 40 is outside the moving area of the image forming unit 100 (holder 110) (see FIG. 7).

  The transfer unit 70 is provided between the paper feeding unit 20 and the image forming unit 100, and mainly includes a driving roller 71, a driven roller 72, a conveyance belt 73, and a transfer roller 74.

  The driving roller 71 and the driven roller 72 are arranged in parallel in a spaced manner in the front-rear direction, and a conveyance belt 73 formed of an endless belt is stretched between them. The outer surface of the conveyor belt 73 is in contact with each photosensitive drum 61. In addition, four transfer rollers 74 that sandwich the conveyor belt 73 between the photosensitive drums 61 are arranged inside the conveyor belt 73 so as to face the photosensitive drums 61. A transfer bias is applied to the transfer roller 74 by constant current control during transfer.

  The fixing unit 80 is disposed on the rear side of the image forming unit 100 and the transfer unit 70, and includes a heating roller 81 and a pressure roller 82 that is disposed to face the heating roller 81 and presses the heating roller 81.

  In the image forming unit 30 configured as described above, first, the surface of each photosensitive drum 61 is uniformly charged by the charger 62 and then exposed to the LED light emitted from each LED unit 40. As a result, the potential of the exposed portion is lowered, and an electrostatic latent image based on the image data is formed on each photosensitive drum 61.

  The toner in the developing cartridge 50 is carried in a thin layer on the developing roller 52, and this toner is formed on the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 61 when the developing roller 52 contacts the photosensitive drum 61. Supplied to the image. As a result, the toner is selectively carried on the photosensitive drum 61 to visualize the electrostatic latent image, and a toner image is formed by reversal development.

Next, the sheet S supplied onto the conveyance belt 73 passes between each photosensitive drum 61 and the conveyance belt 73, and at this time, a transfer bias is applied between the photosensitive drum 61 and the transfer roller 74. The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 61 is transferred onto the paper S.
Then, as the sheet S passes between the heating roller 81 and the pressure roller 82, the toner image transferred onto the sheet S is thermally fixed.

  The paper discharge unit 90 mainly includes a paper discharge conveyance path 91 formed so as to extend upward from the exit of the fixing unit 80 and to be reversed to the front side, and a plurality of pairs of conveyance rollers 92 for conveying the paper S. ing. The sheet S on which the toner image has been transferred and heat-fixed is transported along a paper discharge transport path 91 by a transport roller 92, discharged outside the main body housing 2, and accumulated in the paper discharge tray 5.

<Configuration for moving the LED unit>
As shown in FIG. 2, the LED unit 40 mainly includes an LED array member 41, a first support member 42, and a second support member 43.
The LED array member 41 is a member in which light emitting portions (not shown) made of LEDs are arranged along the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 61 on the emission surface 41A at the lower end.
The first support member 42 is a member that supports the LED array member 41 from above, and rollers 42 </ b> A as an example of a spacing member are provided at both ends in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 61, that is, in the left-right direction. The roller 42 </ b> A is rotatable with respect to the first support member 42, and a lower end of the roller 42 </ b> A protrudes slightly below the emission surface 41 </ b> A of the LED array member 41. The roller 42A rolls in contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 61, thereby fulfilling a function of keeping the distance between the photosensitive drum 61 and the emission surface 41A constant.

  The second support member 43 is a member that is provided on the first support member 42 and supports the first support member 42 by engaging with the first support member 42 from both left and right ends. Engagement shaft portions 43 </ b> A as an example of an engagement portion protrude from both end portions in the left-right direction of the second support member 43.

  Further, a spring accommodating portion 43B that is recessed upward is formed on the lower surface of both end portions of the second support member 43, and a compression spring 44 as an example of an urging member is disposed in the spring accommodating portion 43B. The upper end of the compression spring 44 is locked to the bottom of the spring accommodating portion 43 </ b> B, and the lower end is locked to the first support member 42. Accordingly, the first support member 42 is biased downward with respect to the second support member 43, and the roller 42A is pressed against the photosensitive drum 61 when the LED unit 40 is in the close position. Yes.

  A flat cable 49 as an example of a cable is connected to the left end portion of the LED array member 41. The flat cable 49 extends upward and is connected to a circuit board (not shown). The flat cable 49 is protected by being covered with a bellows-like covering member 47 that can be vertically expanded and contracted.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the side wall 4 is provided with a plurality (four) of guide grooves 4 </ b> A extending vertically corresponding to the positions where the LED units 40 are provided. The engagement shaft portion 43A of the LED unit 40 described with reference to FIG. 2 is engaged with the guide groove 4A, so that the LED unit 40 can move linearly only up and down. .

  In addition, a linear cam member 200 is engaged with the left and right side walls 4 as a member constituting a mechanism for moving the LED unit 40 (only one of the left and right is shown in FIG. 4). The linear cam member 200 is linearly movable in the front-rear direction by engaging with a rail (not shown) formed in the side wall 4 and extending in the front-rear direction.

  The linear cam member 200 is a member that positions the LED unit 40 in the close position when the front cover 3 is in the closed position, and positions the LED unit 40 in the separated position when the front cover 3 is in the closed position. As described above, the plate-like main body 201 is provided with four groove-like engaged portions 210 penetrating therethrough. The engaged portion 210 includes an inclined portion 211 extending so as to be inclined with respect to the moving direction of the linear cam member 200, a pressing portion 212 extending forward from the lower end of the inclined portion 211, and the rear from the upper end of the inclined portion 211. A separation portion 213 extending in the direction of In addition, although the inclination part 211 has shown as having a steep inclination with respect to the front-back direction for convenience of illustration, it is good to adjust this inclination angle so that the LED unit 40 can operate | move smoothly.

The engaged portion 210 is engaged with the engagement shaft portion 43 </ b> A of the LED unit 40. The engaging shaft portion 43 </ b> A is positioned at the pressing portion 212 during image formation of the color printer 1, and receives the urging force of the compression spring 44 by the pressing portion 212. That is, the pressing unit 212 functions to keep the LED unit 40 in the proximity position and press the photosensitive drum 61.
The inclined portion 211 is a portion that extends linearly so as to go down as it goes forward, and moves the LED unit 40 up and down when the linear cam member 200 moves back and forth. Note that the inclined portion 211 may extend in a curved shape instead of a linear shape.
The separation portion 213 is a portion that maintains the LED unit 40 so as not to fall downward when the LED unit 40 is located at the separation position.

A U-shaped cross-section coupling operation unit 202 is provided at the lower end of the main body unit 201, and a cam operation unit 203 is provided at the lower end and the front end of the coupling operation unit 202.
The coupling operation unit 202 is engaged with a first output side coupling joint 250 (see FIG. 2) as an example of a drive transmission unit that is engaged with the coupling joint of the developing cartridge 50 and the coupling joint of the photosensitive drum 61. The second output side coupling joint 260 (see FIG. 2) as an example of the drive transmission unit that moves inward in the left-right direction or retracts outward. For this reason, the coupling actuating portion 202 has four openings 221 through which the first output side coupling joint 250 can pass, and ribs are formed on the upper and lower edges of the openings 221 on the outer sides in the left-right direction. There are four first cam portions 220 having cam surfaces protruding in a shape. The cam surface of the first cam portion 220 extends to the inner side in the left-right direction as it goes forward. The first cam portion 220 is provided at a position corresponding to the first output side coupling joint 250, and when the linear cam member 200 moves back and forth, the first output side coupling joint 250 is in sliding contact, The first output side coupling joint 250 is moved between a driving position for supplying a driving force to the developing roller 52 located on the inner side in the left-right direction and a non-driving position spaced from the holder 110 located on the outer side in the left-right direction. It has become.

  In addition, the coupling operation unit 202 has a second cam portion 230 below each first cam portion 220. Similarly to the first cam portion 220, the second cam portion 230 also has a cam surface that extends inward in the left-right direction as it goes forward, and the second output side when the linear cam member 200 moves back and forth. Due to the sliding contact of the coupling joint 260, the second output side coupling joint 260 is moved away from the holder 110 by moving outwardly in the left-right direction and driving position for supplying driving force to the photosensitive drum 61 positioned inward in the left-right direction. It is designed to move between non-driving positions.

The cam actuating portion 203 has an engagement groove 240 that extends substantially front and rear. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the rear end of the link 290 is rotatably engaged with the engagement groove 240. The front end of the link 290 is rotatably engaged with the front cover 3. The link 290 is engaged with the front cover 3 at a position away from the rotation axis of the front cover 3.
As a result, when the front cover 3 is opened and closed, the front end and the rear end of the link 290 move approximately in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the linear cam member 200 engaged with the rear end of the link 290 is also interlocked with the front cover 3. It has come to go back and forth.

  The coupling operation part 202 is provided only on one of the left and right linear cam members 200 and is not shown in the figure, but the right cam member 200 is cam operated on the main body 201. A unit 203 is provided.

  An upper wall 6 made of sheet metal is provided on the image forming unit 100 in the internal position. A through hole 6A is formed in the upper wall 6 corresponding to each LED unit 40 so that the LED unit 40 can pass therethrough. The upper wall 6 is located in the vicinity of the lower end of the LED unit 40 in the separated position shown in FIG. 5 and protects the LED unit 40 in the separated position.

The operation of the LED unit 40 and the attaching / detaching operation of the image forming unit 100 in the color printer 1 configured as described above will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, when the color printer 1 forms an image, the front cover 3 is in the closed position and the image forming unit 100 is in the internal position in the main body housing 2. The LED unit 40 is in a close position close to the photosensitive drum 61. At this time, in the LED unit 40, the engaging shaft portion 43A of the second support member 43 shown in FIG. 2 is positioned at the pressing portion 212 of the engaged portion 210 of the linear cam member 200 (see FIG. 6). The upward movement is restricted. Then, when the upward movement of the second support member 43 is restricted, the urging force of the compression spring 44 acts as shown in FIG. 2, so that the first support member 42 and the LED array member 41 are moved downward. The roller 42A is pressed against the surface of the photosensitive drum 61 by being biased. At this time, the roller 42A comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 61, and the distance between the emission surface 41A of the LED unit 40 and the photosensitive drum 61 is maintained constant, so that the photosensitive drum 61 can be exposed satisfactorily. That is, a good image can be formed.

  When the front cover 3 is opened to the front and positioned in the open position from the state of FIG. 4 in which the image forming unit 100 is omitted, the front cover 3 pulls the front end of the link 290 forward as shown in FIG. . When the link 290 moves forward, the linear cam member 200 engaged with the rear end of the link 290 is pulled forward.

At this time, the LED unit 40 engaged with the engaged portion 210 of the linear cam member 200 moves the engaging shaft portion 43A from the pressing portion 212 to the inclined portion as the linear cam member 200 moves forward. Move relative to 211. Since the LED unit 40 can only move up and down by engaging with the guide groove 4A extending vertically in the engagement shaft portion 43A, when the inclined portion 211 moves forward, it is pushed up by the inclined portion 211 and smoothly. Move up. Then, in the state of FIG. 5 in which the linear cam member 200 has moved sufficiently forward, the engagement shaft portion 43A engages with the separation portion 213 (see FIG. 4), so that the LED unit 40 is maintained at the separation position. The At this time, the LED unit 40 passes through the through-hole 6A of the upper wall 6 and is positioned above the lower surface of the upper wall 6, so that it is protected by the upper wall 6 and the user manually places it in the main body housing 2 during maintenance. Even if it puts in, possibility of touching the output surface 41A of the LED unit 40 by mistake can be lowered.
Further, when the LED unit 40 moves from the close position shown in FIG. 2 to the separated position shown in FIG. 3, the covering member 47 covering the flat cable 49 is shrunk in the vertical direction, and the flat cable 49 moved or folded is removed. Protect in a contracted state.

  When the linear cam member 200 moves forward, the first cam portion 220 (see FIG. 6) of the linear cam member 200 moves the first output side coupling joint 250 to the left as shown in FIGS. The second cam portion 230 (see FIG. 6) pushes the second output side coupling joint 260 to the left to position it in the non-driving position. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 3, the first output side coupling joint 250 and the second output side coupling joint 260 are separated from the holder 110.

  Thus, when the front cover 3 is positioned at the open position, the LED unit 40, the first output side coupling joint 250, and the second output side coupling joint 260 are retracted from the moving region of the image forming unit 100. As shown in FIG. 7, the image forming unit 100 can be easily pulled out to the external position where at least a part of the image forming unit 100 has left the main body housing 2 without interfering with the LED unit 40 or the like.

  When the image forming unit 100 is attached to the main body housing 2 and returned to the use state, the reverse operation may be performed. After the image forming unit 100 is pushed to the internal position, the front cover 3 is moved to the closed position. . At this time, since the linear motion cam member 200 moves rearward, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 2, the first cam portion 220 pushes the first output side coupling joint 250 to the right to position it at the driving position. The second cam portion 230 pushes the second output side coupling joint 260 to the right and positions it at the driving position. In addition, the engagement shaft portion 43A of the LED unit 40 relatively moves the engaged portion 210 in the order of the separation portion 213, the inclined portion 211, and the pressing portion 212, and moves from the separation position to the proximity position during this time.

  As described above, according to the color printer 1 of the present embodiment, the image forming unit 100 (holder 110) can be moved from the internal position to the external position only by the operation of opening the front cover 3. Maintenance of the printer 1 can be facilitated.

  Further, the linear cam member 200 smoothly moves the LED unit 40 up and down by the inclined portion 211, and has the pressing portion 212, so that the LED unit 40 can be surely disposed at the close position. it can.

  Since the LED unit 40, the first output side coupling joint 250, and the second output side coupling joint 260 are outside the moving region of the image forming unit 100 at the separated positions, when the image forming unit 100 is attached or detached. The image forming unit 100 can move smoothly without interfering with these members. Further, the emission surface 41A of the LED unit 40 is not damaged.

  Further, the linear cam member 200 has not only a function of moving the LED unit 40 but also a function of moving the first output side coupling joint 250 and the second output side coupling joint 260 as drive transmission units. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with a configuration in which these parts are moved as separate parts.

  Further, since the color printer 1 has the roller 42A in the LED unit 40, the distance between the exit surface 41A and the surface of the photosensitive drum 61 can be kept constant, and the roller 42A can be maintained by the compression spring 44. Is always pressed against the surface of the photosensitive drum 61, so that the interval can be made accurately constant.

  Further, since the flat cable 49 is protected by the expanding and contracting covering member 47, when the image forming unit 100 is attached or detached, or when the user puts the hand into the main body housing 2, the user's hand becomes the cable. It is possible to suppress the catching.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately modified and implemented.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the developing cartridge having the developing roller is illustrated as an example of the cartridge that stores the developer. However, the cartridge of the present invention may be a so-called process cartridge integrally including a photosensitive drum. However, it may be a toner cartridge that does not have a developing roller and contains only toner.

  The cartridge support may be configured such that only a part of the cartridge support comes out from the apparatus main body at the external position, or the cartridge support may be configured to be fully removable and removable.

  In the said embodiment, although the exposure member was carrying out LED as a light emitting element, you may use light emitting elements other than LED for an exposure member.

  In the above embodiment, a color printer is shown as an example of the image forming apparatus. However, the image forming apparatus may be a monochrome printer, a copier, a multifunction peripheral, or the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Color printer 2 Main body housing | casing 2A Opening part 3 Front cover 4 Side wall 4A Guide groove 30 Image formation part 40 LED unit 41 LED array member 41A Output surface 42A Roller 43A Engagement shaft part 44 Compression spring 47 Cover member 49 Flat cable 50 Development Cartridge 51 Cartridge case 52 Developing roller 58 Toner storage chamber 61 Photosensitive drum 70 Transfer unit 80 Fixing unit 90 Paper discharge unit 100 Image forming unit 110 Holder 200 Linear motion cam member 210 Engaged portion 211 Inclined portion 212 Pressing portion 213 Separating portion 220 First cam portion 230 Second cam portion 240 Engaging groove 250 First output side coupling joint 260 Second output side coupling joint 290 Link S Paper

Claims (7)

An apparatus body having an opening;
A cover movable between a closed position for closing the opening and an open position for opening;
A cartridge for containing the developer;
A cartridge support that supports the cartridge and is configured to move through the opening between an internal position located within the apparatus body and an external position at least a portion of which is located outside the apparatus body;
An exposure member configured to expose the photosensitive drum and move to a proximity position close to the photosensitive drum and a separation position spaced apart from the photosensitive drum, and having an engaging portion at an axial end of the photosensitive drum;
A linear cam member having an engaged portion that engages with the engaging portion and configured to move linearly in the moving direction of the cartridge support in conjunction with the movement of the cover. ,
The linear cam member positions the exposure member in the proximity position when the cover is in a closed position, and positions the exposure member in the separation position when the cover is in an open position. Image forming apparatus.   The engaged portion includes an inclined portion extending obliquely with respect to a moving direction of the linear cam, and a pressing portion for maintaining the exposure member at the close position and pressing the exposure member against the photosensitive drum. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a separation portion for maintaining the exposure member at the separation position.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exposure member is located outside a moving region of the cartridge support in the separated position. A developing roller supported by the cartridge support and for supplying a developer to the photosensitive drum;
Moveable between a driving position for supplying driving force to at least one of the developing roller and the photosensitive drum, and a non-driving position separated from the cartridge support by moving in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum from the driving position. A drive transmission unit,
The linear cam member positions the drive transmission unit in the drive position when the cover is in the closed position, and positions the drive transmission unit in the non-drive position when the cover is in the open position. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus.   The said exposure member has a space | interval holding member which hold | maintains the space | interval of the radiation | emission surface which emits the light for exposure, and the said photosensitive drum uniformly, The Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. Image forming apparatus.   6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a biasing member for biasing the exposure member toward the photosensitive drum. A cable connected to the exposure member;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a covering member that covers the cable and that can be expanded and contracted in a moving direction of the exposure member.

Images