JP2014102522A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To satisfy both the protective property of process means constituting a cartridge or components of the process means and the operability of the cartridge, even when an apparatus body or the cartridge is miniaturized in a cartridge attachable/detachable type image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: A cartridge 50 which is removably attached to an apparatus body 100A of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus 100 forming an image on a recording medium P comprises a protection member 8 and a part to be protected 1. The protection member 8 is movable between a first position covering the part to be protected 1 and a second position exposing the part to be protected 1. The protection member 8 has a gripping part 8b for a user to grip the cartridge 50.

Description

  The present invention relates to a cartridge that is detachably mounted on an apparatus main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium. The present invention also relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which a cartridge is detachably attached to an apparatus main body to form an image on a recording medium.

  Here, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus uses an electrophotographic photosensitive member as an image carrier, applies an electrophotographic image forming process to the image bearing member, forms an electrostatic latent image, and forms an image on a recording medium. is there. For example, an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (such as an LED printer or a laser beam printer), an electrophotographic facsimile machine, and an electrophotographic word processor are included. In addition, a mono-color or full-color (including multi-color images) image forming apparatus used as an output device such as a multifunction machine having a function of those functions or a workstation is included.

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

  The cartridge is, for example, a process cartridge or a developing cartridge, and is detachably attached to the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and contributes to an image forming process for forming an image on a recording medium. The process cartridge is a cartridge in which at least one of a charging unit, a developing unit, and a cleaning unit as a process unit and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum are integrally formed, and is detachably mounted on the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. To do.

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

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

  The developing cartridge has a developing roller, and stores a developer (toner) used for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum by the developing roller. Is to be detachably mounted. In the case of a developing cartridge, the electrophotographic photosensitive drum is attached to the apparatus main body or a cartridge support member. Alternatively, the electrophotographic photosensitive drum is provided in a so-called separation type process cartridge (in this case, the process cartridge does not have a developing unit).

  The developing cartridge can also be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body by the user himself. Therefore, maintenance of the apparatus main body can be easily performed.

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

  As described above, the cartridge is generally configured such that a part of the process means is exposed to the outside of the cartridge. There is also known a configuration in which a protective member for protecting the exposed process means is opened and closed when the cartridge is attached and detached. For example, as a process cartridge, a process cartridge including a photosensitive drum protection member (drum shutter) for protecting the photosensitive drum is known.

  As a developing cartridge, a developing cartridge provided with a developer carrying member protecting member (developing shutter) for protecting the developer carrying member is known. Furthermore, a configuration in which a handle is provided on the cartridge for improving operability is also known (Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-19228 (FIG. 2)

  In a conventional cartridge or a cartridge detachable image forming apparatus, it is necessary to secure a retreat area for the protective member on the operation surface of the cartridge or in the vicinity of the operation surface. In this case, particularly in a small cartridge, it is difficult to provide a handle in the central region of the cartridge. Even in the configuration in which the handle portion is arranged in the cartridge longitudinal end region as shown in Patent Document 1, it is conceivable that it becomes difficult to provide the handle portion if the cartridge is further downsized in the longitudinal direction.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. Even when the apparatus main body and the cartridge are downsized, the protection of the process means constituting the cartridge or the components of the process means, the operability of the cartridge, The purpose is to achieve both.

  A typical configuration of a cartridge according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a cartridge that is detachably mounted on the main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium, and includes a protective member and The protection member is movable between a first position where the protection portion is covered and a second position where the protection portion is exposed. It has a handle part for grasping.

  In order to achieve the above object, a typical configuration of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which an image is formed on a recording medium by detachably attaching a cartridge to the apparatus main body. A) a device having a protection member and a protected portion, the protection member being movable between a first position covering the protected portion and a second position exposing the protected portion; A cartridge having a grip portion for a user to grip the cartridge on the protection member; and b) the protection member positioned at the second position in a state where the cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body. And a main body side action member to be held.

  According to the present invention, even when the apparatus main body and the cartridge are downsized, it is possible to realize both the protection of the process means constituting the cartridge or the components of the process means and the operability of the cartridge.

(A) is a vertical right side view of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus in the first embodiment, and (b) is a partially enlarged view of (a). Illustration of how to replace the cartridge Partial perspective view of the left and right frames of the main frame (A) is a perspective view of the cartridge, (b) is an enlarged view of the right end portion side of the cartridge of (a). (A) is a right end view of the cartridge, (b) is a transverse right side view of the cartridge, and (c) is an explanatory view of a lock member and a lock release member. (A) thru | or (c) is a drum shutter opening-and-closing operation | movement process diagram (the 1 thru | or the 3) (A) and (b) are diagrams of opening and closing operation of the drum shutter (parts 4 and 5). (A) is a vertical right side view of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus in the second embodiment, and (b) is a partially enlarged view of (a). Illustration of how to replace the cartridge (A) is a right end view of the cartridge, (b) is a transverse right side view of the cartridge. (A) to (e) are development shutter opening / closing operation process diagrams (Nos. 1 to 5). Vertical left side view of electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to another embodiment

[First embodiment]
<Overall configuration of electrophotographic image forming apparatus>
1A is a vertical right side view of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus (hereinafter, also referred to as an image forming apparatus or apparatus) 100 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a partially enlarged view of FIG. . The apparatus 100 uses an electrophotographic process in which a plurality of process cartridges 50 (50y, 50m, 50c, and 50k) are removably attached to the apparatus main body 100A and a color image can be formed on the recording medium P 4 This is a full-color laser printer.

  That is, color electrophotography for executing image formation on the recording medium P based on an electrical image signal input to a control circuit unit (control means: CPU) 200 from an external host device 300 such as a personal computer, an image reader, or a counterpart facsimile machine. An image forming apparatus. The apparatus 100 is mounted on a substantially horizontal mounting surface (installation surface) A such as a mounting table, desk, or floor.

  In the following description, the front side (front side) of the device 100 is the side on which the device opening / closing door (opening / closing member) 15 is disposed. The rear side (back side) is the opposite side. The front-rear direction is a direction from the rear side toward the front side (front direction) and the opposite direction (rear direction). Left and right are left or right when the image forming apparatus is viewed from the front side. The left-right direction is a direction from left to right (left direction) and the opposite direction (right direction). Upper and lower are upper and lower in the direction of gravity.

  An apparatus main body (hereinafter also referred to as a main body) 100A is an image forming apparatus portion excluding a process cartridge (hereinafter also referred to as a cartridge) 50.

  In the main body 100A, first to fourth cartridges 50 (50y, 50m, 50c, 50k) are arranged in parallel in a substantially horizontal direction from the rear side to the front side. That is, the apparatus 100 is an apparatus called an in-line system or a tandem system in which a plurality of image forming stations for forming a plurality of colors or full-color images using an electrophotographic technique are arranged in a substantially line.

  In the present embodiment, the cartridges 50 are so-called integrated process cartridges, and have the same configuration except that the color of the stored developer (toner) t is different. Each cartridge 50 includes a rotatable electrophotographic photosensitive drum (hereinafter also referred to as drum) 1 that is an image carrier, a charging device 2, a developing device 4, and a cleaning device 6 as process means acting on the drum 1. . They are integrally assembled to the cartridge frame 51 in a predetermined arrangement.

  The charging device 2 is a charging roller. The developing device 4 supplies a developer to the drum 1 and develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the drum 1, a coating roller 4b that applies (supplies) the developer to the roller 4a, and a developing roller. A developer container 4c for storing the agent t, a developer stirring rotating member 4d, and the like. The cartridge 50y contains a yellow (y color) developer t. The cartridge 50m contains magenta (m color) developer t. The cartridge 50c contains a cyan (c color) developer t. The cartridge 50k contains a black (k color) developer t.

  A laser scanner unit 3 as an image exposure apparatus is disposed below the cartridge 50 mounted on the main body 100A. The unit 3 scans and exposes the lower surface of the drum 1 of each cartridge 50 with laser light (exposure light) L.

  That is, a window hole 60 a is formed in the bottom plate of the drawer member 60 that supports the cartridge 50. The laser light L emitted upward from the unit 3 passes through the window hole 61a and enters the cartridge from the lower surface side opening 50a into the cartridge from the bottom to the upper side, and between the charging device 2 and the developing device 4. From the bottom of the drum 1. As a result, electrostatic latent images are sequentially formed on the drum 1. The electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 4 to form a developer image on the drum 1.

  The primary transfer device 5 is disposed above the cartridge 50 mounted on the main body 100A. The apparatus 5 includes a transfer frame 5f that is a rectangular frame member that is long in the front-rear direction, and a first frame disposed in parallel in the left-right direction so as to be rotatable on the rear end side and the front end side in the frame 5f. And second belt suspension rollers 70 and 71. Further, a tension roller 72 and first to fourth primary transfer rollers 73 (73y, 73m, 73c, 73k) disposed between the rollers 70 and 71 are provided.

  A flexible endless transfer belt (endless belt) 5a made of a dielectric material as an intermediate transfer member is stretched around the rollers 70, 71, 72 and 73. The lower surface of the belt 5 a is in contact with the upper surface of the drum 1 of each cartridge 50. Each roller 73 is in contact with the upper surface of the drum 1 of the corresponding cartridge 50 via the belt 5a. The contact portion between the drum 1 of each cartridge 50 and the belt 5a is a primary transfer nip portion T1.

  The frame 5f is held by the main body 100A on the rear end side via a rotation shaft 5p, and the front side can swing up and down around the shaft 5p. The secondary transfer roller 16 is in contact with the roller 71 via the belt 5a. A contact portion between the roller 16 and the belt 5a is a secondary transfer nip portion T2.

  A fixing device 12 is disposed on the upper front side in the main body 100A. A discharge tray 14 is disposed on the upper surface of the main body 100A. A fixing device 12 having a fixing film unit 12a and a pressure roller 12b is used. A feeding cassette 10 in which a sheet-like recording medium (hereinafter also referred to as a recording material) P is stacked and stored is disposed below the unit 3.

  The operation for forming a full-color image is as follows. Based on the image formation start signal, the drum 1 of each cartridge 50 is rotationally driven in the counterclockwise direction indicated by the arrow at a predetermined speed. The developing roller 4a and the coating roller 4b of the developing device 4 are also rotationally driven at a predetermined speed and direction. The belt 5a is also rotationally driven at a speed corresponding to the speed of the drum 1 in the clockwise direction of the arrow (forward direction with respect to the rotation of the drum 1) using the roller 71 as a driving roller. Unit 3 is also driven. In each cartridge 50, the roller 2 uniformly charges the surface of the drum 1 to a predetermined polarity and potential at a predetermined control timing.

  The unit 3 scans and exposes the surface of the drum 1 of each cartridge 50 with a laser beam L modulated in accordance with an image signal of each color at a predetermined control timing. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image signal of the corresponding color is formed on the surface of the drum 1 of each cartridge 50 at a predetermined control timing. The formed electrostatic latent image is developed as a developer image by the developing device 4. As a result, the drums 1 of the cartridges 50y, 50m, 50c, and 50k each have y, m, c, and k colors corresponding to the y, m, c, and k color component images of the full-color image. A k-color developer image is formed at a predetermined control timing.

  The developer images are electrostatically primary-transferred at predetermined primary transfer nip portions T1 in a predetermined superimposed manner on the circulating belt 5a. Thus, an unfixed full-color developer image with four colors superimposed of y color + m color + c color + k color is formed on the belt 5a. In each cartridge 50, the transfer residual toner remaining on the drum surface after the primary transfer of the developer image to the belt 5a is removed by the device 6, and the drum 1 is repeatedly used for image formation.

  On the other hand, the feeding roller 11 is driven at a predetermined control timing. As a result, one sheet of the recording material P in the cassette 10 is separated and fed, moved from the bottom in the vertical conveyance path Z on the front side in the main body 100A, and introduced into the secondary transfer nip T2. As a result, the four-color superimposed developer image on the belt 5a is electrostatically and collectively secondarily transferred onto the surface of the recording material P.

  The recording material P is separated from the surface of the belt 5a, introduced into the apparatus 12, and heated and pressurized at the fixing nip portion. As a result, the color developer images are mixed and fixed to the recording material P. Then, the recording material P exits the apparatus 12 and is discharged from the discharge port 13 onto the tray 14 as a full-color image formed product. In this embodiment, the toner remaining on the surface of the belt 5a after separation of the recording material is electrostatically attached to the surface of the drum 1 at the primary transfer nip portion T1 of the first cartridge 50y, for example. Removed.

<Cartridge replacement method>
As each cartridge 50 is used for image formation, the developer t contained in the container 4c is consumed. When the developer is consumed to such an extent that an image with satisfactory quality cannot be formed for the user who purchased the cartridge, the commercial value of the cartridge is lost.

  Therefore, for example, a means (not shown) for detecting the remaining amount of developer in each cartridge 50 is provided. In the circuit unit 200, the detected remaining amount value is compared with a preset threshold value for cartridge life warning or life warning. For a cartridge whose detected remaining value is smaller than the threshold value, a life warning or a life warning for the cartridge is displayed on a display unit (not shown). This prompts the user to prepare a cartridge for replacement, or prompts the user to replace the cartridge to maintain the quality of the output image.

  In the apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the replacement of the cartridge 50 is performed in a state where the cartridge 50 is supported (accommodated) on a cartridge tray (cartridge support member, drawer member: hereinafter also referred to as tray) 60 in order to improve usability. . The tray 60 is pulled out to the front side of the main body 100A. Thus, the user can exchange the cartridge 50 from the front side of the main body 100A (so-called front access).

  An opening 101 is provided on the front side of the apparatus 100. The opening 101 is an opening through which the cartridge 50 is passed in order to insert the cartridge 50 into the main body 100A and to remove the cartridge 50 from the main body 100A. Moreover, the door 15 which can move between the closed position which closes the opening part 101, and the open position which opens the opening part 101 is provided.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the door 15 can be opened and closed with respect to the main body 100A around a horizontal axis (hinge axis) 15p on the lower side. As a result, the door 15 is turned upright about the shaft 15p to be in a closed state with respect to the main body 100A as shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 2 (a). it can. The opening 101 is closed by closing the door 15. Further, the door 15 can be tilted to the front side of the main body 100A around the shaft 15p and turned to be opened from the main body 100A as shown in FIG. 2B. The opening 101 is opened by opening the door 15.

  In the present embodiment, a recording material guide rib 15a and a secondary transfer roller 16 constituting the longitudinal conveyance path Z are disposed on the inner surface side of the door 15, and these are together with the door 15 to be opened and closed. It moves to the outside and inside of the main body 100A.

  The tray 60 is a rectangular frame-shaped member that is long in the front-rear direction, and the guided portions 61 (61L (not shown), 61R) that are long in the front-rear direction are symmetrically provided on the outer surfaces of the left and right frame portions. Is arranged.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, guide portions 103 (103L, 103R) that are long in the front-rear direction are arranged symmetrically on the inner surface side of the left frame 102L and the inner surface side of the right frame 102R of the main frame that is the skeleton of the main body 100A. It is set up. The guided portion 61 and the guide portion 103 are fitted to each other, and in the present embodiment, the guided portion 61 is a convex strip, and the guide portion 103 is a concave groove strip into which the convex strip is fitted. The tray 60 is supported so as to be slidable substantially horizontally in the front-rear direction between the left and right frames 102 </ b> L and 102 </ b> R by fitting the guided portion 61 and the guide portion 103.

  The tray 60 supports the cartridge 50, passes through the opening 101 that is opened when the door 15 is opened, and passes through the inner position I (FIG. 2B) located inside the main body 100A and the main body 100A. It can move between the outside position O (FIG. 2 (c)) located outside. The tray 60 has a large frame portion, and the inside of the large frame portion is divided into four in the front-rear direction by partition members, which are used as support portions for the four cartridges 50, respectively. Each cartridge 50 is supported on the support portion with the longitudinal direction of the cartridge (the axial direction of the drum 1) being the left-right direction.

  The tray 60 can move linearly in a direction that intersects the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 50. The inner position I is a position where the cartridge 50 is positioned at an image forming position where the cartridge 50 forms an image. The outer position O is a position where the cartridge 50 is detached from the tray 60.

  When the door 15 is closed as shown in FIG. 2A, the tray 60 is positioned and fixed at a predetermined inner position I in the main body 100A by positioning and fixing means (not shown). Each cartridge 50 supported by the tray 60 is also positioned and fixed at a predetermined image forming position by positioning and fixing means (not shown). A drive output portion (cartridge drive coupling: not shown) on the main body 100A side is coupled to a drive input portion (coupling coupling portion: not shown) of each cartridge 50. As a result, the driving force of a driving motor (not shown) on the main body 100A side can be transmitted to the cartridge 50.

  In addition, an electrical output section (not shown) on the main body 100A side is electrically coupled to an electrical input section (not shown) on each cartridge 50 side. As a result, a predetermined bias (charging bias, developing bias, etc.) can be applied to the cartridge 50 from a power source (not shown) on the main body 100A side. Further, the apparatus 5 is in a state in which the belt 5a is positioned and held at a transfer position where the belt 5a contacts the upper surface of the drum 1 of each cartridge 50 in a predetermined manner. In the above apparatus state, the apparatus 100 can perform an image forming operation.

  The door 15 is opened as shown in FIG. 2B from the closed state of FIG. Then, the device 5 is swung upwardly about the shaft 5p by an operation of an interlocking mechanism (not shown) such as a link mechanism interlocking with the opening movement of the door 15. As a result, the apparatus 5 is moved and held at a predetermined retracted position in a state where the belt 5a is separated from the upper surface of the drum 1 of each cartridge 50. Further, the coupling of the drive output unit and the electrical output unit on the main body 100A side to the drive input unit and the electrical input unit on each cartridge 50 side is released. Further, the positioning and fixing of the tray 60 and the cartridge 50 are released.

  Therefore, the grip portion 60a provided in the tray front frame portion exposed from the opening 101 is gripped. Then, the tray 60 is moved from the inner position I in FIG. 2B located inside the main body 100A to the outer position O located outside the main body 100A from the opening 101 as shown in FIG. Fully pull out until further pull-out movement is regulated by (shown). As a result, the entire cartridge 50 supported by the tray 60 passes through the opening 101 and is exposed to the outside of the main body 100A, and the upper surfaces of all the cartridges 50 are opened.

  When the tray 60 is pulled out, the apparatus 5 is held at the retracted position, and the belt 5a is separated from the upper surface of the drum 1 of each cartridge 50. Therefore, the drum 1 and the belt 5a are not rubbed. Further, the state in which the tray 60 is pulled out horizontally to the outer position O is kept stable by the fitting of the guided portion 61 and the guide portion 103. In a state where the tray 60 is pulled out to the outer position O, the individual cartridges 50 are detachably supported upward from the tray 60 as shown in FIG.

  The tray 60 supports the individual cartridges 50 by moving the cartridges 50 from above to below. The tray 60 supports each cartridge 50 roughly at each support portion.

  With this configuration, the cartridge 50 can be easily replaced. In the apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the vertical direction is the operation direction when the cartridge 50 is attached to and detached from the main body 100A (tray 60). The cartridge 50 is attached and detached by the user holding the handle portion 8b provided on the cartridge 50 and protruding in the operation direction. The user grasps the handle portion 8b, lifts the cartridge 50 upward from the tray 60, and removes it from the support portion. Further, the grip portion 8b is grasped, and the cartridge 50 is lowered from the upper side of the tray 60 to be inserted into the support portion to be supported. The handle portion 8b will be described later.

  Here, in the apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the tray 60 supports the cartridges 50k, 50c, 50m, and 50y arranged in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the direction of movement from the outer position O to the inner position I. doing. That is, the cartridges 50k, 50c, 50m, and 50y containing the developer of k color, c color, m color, and y color are supported in this order.

  The cartridge 50k is a cartridge that consumes more developer than other cartridges, that is, has a high replacement frequency. The cartridge 50k is supported by the tray 60 on the front side of the main body 100A. Therefore, when replacing the cartridge 50k, the cartridge 50k can be exposed to the outside of the main body 100A by slightly pulling the tray 60 to the outside of the main body 100A. That is, when exchanging the cartridge 50k, it is not necessary to pull out the tray 60 until the pulling position is regulated by the stopper. Therefore, the exchange operability of the cartridge 50k is improved.

  That is, when the cartridge 50k located on the most downstream side in the pulling-out direction of the tray 60 is attached to or detached from the tray 60, the tray 60 may not be located at the outer position O. Even in such a case, the tray 60 is pulled out more outward than when the cartridge 50 is positioned at the image forming position. Therefore, the cartridge 50k is pulled out to the front side of the main body 100A as compared with the case where the cartridge 50k is positioned at the image forming position, so that the user can easily replace the cartridge 50k.

  That is, the tray 60 supports the cartridges so as to be sequentially removable from the cartridges on the downstream side in the movement direction while the cartridges are moved from the inner position I to the outer position O, and at the outer position O, the plurality of cartridges are supported. All of the cartridges can be removed. Further, the tray 60 is movable in the horizontal direction, and supports the cartridge 50 so that the cartridge 50 can be taken out right above the outer position O, and supports the cartridge 50 by moving it downward.

  When the tray 60 is pulled out to the outside position O and the cartridge to be exchanged is exchanged as described above, the tray 60 is pushed from the outside position O to the inside position I in the main body 100A ((b) in FIG. 2). When the tray 60 is sufficiently pushed in, a stopper (not shown) on the tray 60 side comes into contact with a stopper (not shown) on the main body 100A side, and further pushing movement of the tray 60 is restricted. When the tray 60 is pushed in, the apparatus 5 is held at the retracted position, and the belt 5a is separated from the upper surface of the drum 1 of each cartridge 50. Therefore, rubbing between the drum 1 and the belt 5a does not occur.

  Then, the door 15 is closed ((a) in FIG. 1, (b) in FIG. 2). By the operation of the interlocking mechanism interlocking with the closing movement of the door 15, the tray 60 is positioned and fixed at the predetermined inner position I by the positioning fixing means. Each cartridge 50 supported by the tray 60 is also positioned and fixed at a predetermined image forming position by the positioning and fixing means. Further, the drive output section on the main body 100A side is coupled to the drive input section of each cartridge 50. In addition, the electrical output section on the main body 100A side is electrically coupled to the electrical input section on each cartridge 50 side.

  Then, the primary transfer device 5 is swung downward from the retracted position about the shaft 5p, and the belt 5a moves to the transfer position where the upper surface of the drum 1 of each cartridge 50 is in contact with the predetermined position. It will be held in the state. As a result, the apparatus 100 returns to a state in which an image forming operation is possible.

<Opening and closing the drum shutter>
4A is an external perspective view of the cartridge 50, and FIG. 4B is an enlarged perspective view of the right end portion side of the cartridge 50. 5A is a right side view of the cartridge 50, FIG. 5B is a transverse right side view of the cartridge 50, and FIG. 5C is an explanatory view of the lock member and the lock release member.

  The cartridge 50 has a drum frame 1, a charging device 2, a developing device 4, and a cleaning device 6 that are integrally assembled in a predetermined arrangement relationship inside the cartridge frame 51. Assembly. An opening 51b is formed along the length of the upper surface of the frame 51, and the upper surface portion of the drum 1 is exposed to the outside of the cartridge from the opening 51b. The primary transfer nip T1 is formed by the belt 5a of the primary transfer device 5 coming into contact with the upper surface of the drum 1 exposed from the opening 51b.

  The cartridge 50 includes the drum shutter 8 as a protection member for protecting the drum upper surface exposed from the opening 51b to the outside of the cartridge as a protected portion as described above. The shutter 8 is movably disposed between a closed position (first position) covering the drum upper surface exposed from the opening 51b and an open position (second position) exposing the drum upper surface. . The shutter 8 includes an arc-shaped protection portion 8a covering the upper surface portion of the drum, a handle portion 8b provided at a central portion in the longitudinal direction on the outer surface side of the protection portion 8a, and both longitudinal end portions (right and left end portions) of the protection portion 8a. And an opening protrusion 8c provided so as to protrude outward.

  That is, a handle portion (handle shape) 8b for the user to hold the cartridge 50 is provided in the shutter 8 which is a protective member. In the drawing, only the right end side of the shutter 8 is shown as the opening protrusion 8c. The shutter 8 is suspended so as to be movable with respect to the frame 51 by a first shutter arm 81 and a second shutter arm 82 that are symmetrically provided on both ends of the longitudinal direction. That is, the upper ends of the arms 81 and 82 are connected to the left and right end faces of the shutter 8 so as to be rotatable, and the lower ends are connected to the left and right end faces of the frame 51 so as to be rotatable.

  As for the shutter 8, the arms 81 and 82 are shown only on the right end side of the shutter 8 in the figure. The arms 81 and 82 can be moved to a closed position that is located directly above the opening 51a and conceals the upper surface of the drum as shown by the solid lines in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b). . And, as indicated by the alternate long and short dash line, it can move from the opening 51a to an open position where the upper surface of the drum is exposed.

  The arm 82 is always urged to rotate in the direction of moving the shutter 8 to the closed position by the urging force of a torsion spring (urging member) 83 disposed between the arm 82 and the frame 51. Thus, the shutter 8 moves in the direction of the closed position in the free state and is held in the state received by the frame 51 in the closed position.

  The left and right end plates of the frame 51 have a lock member 52 for holding the shutter 8 in the closed position symmetrically and a release member 54 for releasing the holding of the shutter 8 by the lock member 52.

  In this embodiment, the lock member 52 is in the form of a so-called snap fit claw that is integrally formed with the frame 51 by resin molding with respect to the left and right end plates of the frame 51, and has an outward engaging claw portion at the free end. 53 and the base 55 is integrated with the frame 51 in series. Further, a release protrusion 54 as a release member is integrally provided on the outer surface of the intermediate portion between the engaging claw portion 53 and the base portion 55 of the lock member 52 so as to protrude outward.

  In the drawing, the lock member 52 and the release protrusion 54 are only shown on the right end face plate side of the shutter 8 of the left and right end face plates of the frame 51. The engaging claw portion 53 is disposed so as to be engaged with the arm 81 when the shutter 8 is in the closed position and to restrict the movement of the shutter 8 toward the open position. The shutter 8 is in a free state when the tray 60 holding the cartridge 50 is pulled out to the outer position O, and is moved to the closed position by the urging force of the urging member 83. Since the engaging claw portion 53 of the lock member 52 is engaged with the arm 81, the shutter 8 is held (locked) in the closed position.

  The shutter 8 is also in a free state when the cartridge 50 is removed from the main body 100, and is held in the closed position by the urging force of the urging member 83 and the engaging claw portion 53 of the lock member 52. When the tray 60 holding the cartridge 50 is in the inner position I, the shutter 8 is released from the locked state by the lock member 52 and resists the biasing force of the biasing member 83 by means described below. And is held in the open position. Reference numeral 90 denotes a drum bearing portion provided on the left and right end face plates of the frame 51.

  Subsequently, the opening / closing operation of the shutter 8 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 6, and 7. As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of shutter opening / closing guides 110 projecting inward from the inner side of the left frame 102 </ b> L and the inner side of the right frame 102 </ b> R of the main body 100 </ b> A, and a pair of shutter unlocking guides 120 are provided. Is provided. The guide 110 is a main body side action member that holds the shutter 8 in the open position when the cartridge 50 is mounted on the main body 100A.

  The guide 110 is a member that is long in the front-rear direction, and has a downwardly inclined surface (an inclined surface inclined with respect to the tray moving direction) 111 on the tip side. Further, it has a lower surface 112 adjacent to the inclined surface 111 and parallel to the tray moving direction and facing downward. The inclined surface 111 is disposed at a position where the inclined surface 111 comes into contact with the opening projection 8c of the shutter 8 of the cartridge 50 supported by the tray 60 when the tray 60 is moved from the outer position O to the inner position I. The guide 120 is a second main body side action member that holds the release protrusion 54 in the released state when the cartridge 50 is mounted.

  The guide 120 is also a member that is long in the front-rear direction, and has a release edge 121 that is substantially orthogonal to the moving direction of the tray 60 on the tip side. Moreover, it has a substantially vertical pressing surface 122 adjacent to the edge 121. The edge 121 and the pressing surface 122 are disposed at a position in contact with the release protrusion 54 of the cartridge 50 supported by the tray 60 when the tray 60 is at the inner position I.

  As described above, in the state where the tray 60 is located at the outer position O (FIG. 2C), the cartridge 50 is supported by the corresponding support portion. In this state, the shutter 8 of each cartridge 50 is in a free state, and is held (locked) in the closed position by the urging force of the urging member 83 and the engaging claw portion 53 of the lock member 52. The handle portion 8b provided on the shutter 8 protrudes in the up-down direction, that is, the operation direction when the cartridge 50 is attached to and detached from the main body 100A (tray 60).

  In a state where the cartridge 50 is supported on the support portion of the tray 60, the tray 60 is moved from the outer position O toward the inner position I as shown in FIG. Then, first, as shown in FIG. 6B, with respect to the cartridge 50y on the most downstream side in the tray moving direction, the protrusion inclined surfaces 54a of the left and right release protrusions 54 respectively correspond to the release edges 121 of the left and right guides 120 on the main body 100A side. Abut. When the tray 60 is further pushed in, the release protrusion 54 and the pressing surface 122 come into contact with each other and the protrusion 54 is pressed.

  By this pressing, the left and right lock members 52 of the cartridge 50y are bent and moved inward of the frame 51 against the elasticity of the base 55 as indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. Thereby, engagement with the arm 81 of the latching claw part 53 disengages. That is, the restriction on the movement of the shutter 8 toward the open position is released. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 6C, the left and right opening projections 8c of the cartridge 50y abut on the downward inclined surfaces 111 of the left and right guides 110 on the main body 100A side.

  When the tray 60 is further pushed in from the state where the protruding portion 8c and the inclined surface 111 are in contact, the protruding portion 8c resists the urging force of the urging member 83 as shown in FIGS. It is pushed down along the inclined surface 111 and further held downward by the lower surface 112. Therefore, the shutter 8 of the cartridge 50y moves to the open position against the urging force of the urging member 83 and is held in the open position.

  The handle portion 8b provided in the shutter 8 moves upstream from the state in which the shutter 8 protrudes in the up-down direction, that is, the operation direction when the cartridge 50 is attached / detached as the shutter 8 moves from the closed position to the open position. It falls into the side. More specifically, the handle portion 8b is in a state where it falls down below the height level of the drum upper surface portion.

  The cartridge 50y moves into the main body 100A as the tray 60 is pushed in while the shutter 8 is kept open as described above. Then, in the process in which the tray 60 is further pushed in, the respective shutters 8 move from the closed position to the open position in the same order as the shutter 8 of the cartridge 50y in the order of the cartridges 50m, 50c, and 50k. Is done. In a state where the tray 60 is sufficiently pushed into the predetermined inner position I, the shutters 8 of all the cartridges 50 are moved to the open position and are held at the open position.

  Therefore, the grip portions 8b of all the cartridges 50 are in a state where they fall down below the height level of the drum upper surface portion on the upstream side in the moving direction of the tray 60 ((b) in FIG. 2). When the door 15 is closed, the device 5 is swung downward from the retracted position about the shaft 5p, so that the belt 5a makes a predetermined contact with the upper surface of the drum 1 where each cartridge 50 is opened. It moves to the transfer position and is held at that position. At this time, the grip portions 8b of all the cartridges 50 are in a state of being lowered below the height level of the drum upper surface portion, so that they do not interfere with the belt 5a.

  When the door 15 is opened and the tray 60 is pulled out from the inner position I to the outer position O, the shutter 8 of each cartridge 50 is sequentially moved from the open position to the closed position as the tray 60 is pulled out. Move to. And it will be in the state hold | maintained by the lock member 52 in the closed position. That is, the tray 60 is pulled out from the inner position I to the outer position O. Along with this, first, the left and right opening projections 8c of the cartridge 50k on the most downstream side in the pulling direction are regulated by the lower surfaces 112 of the left and right guides 110 on the main body 100A side from the lower surface 112 to the inclined surface 111, respectively. Transition to the position restriction is released.

  Therefore, the shutter 8 is moved from the open position to the closed position by the action of the biasing member 83. Subsequently, the left and right release protrusions 54 are separated from the pressing surfaces 122 of the left and right guides 120 on the main body 100A side, and the pressing of the left and right protrusions 54 is released. As a result, the left and right lock members 52 of the cartridge 50k are bent and moved in the frame inner direction indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. Move back. By this movement of the lock member 52, the engaging claw portion 53 engages with the arm 82 of the shutter 8 that has moved to the closed position.

  That is, the shutter 8 of the cartridge 50k is held in the closed position by the urging force of the urging member 83 and the engaging claw portion 53 of the lock member 52. By moving the shutter 8 from the open position to the closed position, the handle portion 8b returns from the tilted posture at the inner position I to the posture protruding in the vertical direction, that is, the operation direction when the cartridge 50 is attached to and detached from the main body 100A (tray 60). . Then, in the process of further pulling out the tray 60, the respective shutters 8 are moved from the open position to the closed position in the same order as the shutter 8 of the cartridge 50k in the order of the cartridges 50c, 50m, and 50y. Is done.

  In a state where the tray 60 is pulled out to the predetermined outer position O, the shutters 8 of all the cartridges 50 are moved to the closed position by the urging force of the urging member 83. Since the engaging claw portion 53 of the lock member 52 is engaged with the arm 81, the shutter 8 is held (locked) in the closed position. Therefore, the grips 8b of all the cartridges 50 are returned from the tilted posture at the inner position I to the posture protruding in the vertical direction, that is, the operation direction when the cartridge 50 is attached to and detached from the main body 100A (tray 60).

  As described above, by providing the handle portion 8 b on the shutter (protective member) 8 that can be opened and closed in the cartridge 50, it is easy to arrange both the shutter 8 and the handle portion 8 b on the operation surface side of the cartridge 50. Yes. For example, even when the main body 100A and the cartridge 50 are downsized, it is possible to realize both the protection of the process means constituting the cartridge 50 or the components of the process means and the operability of the cartridge 50. In this embodiment, when the shutter 8 is closed, the handle portion 8b protrudes in the operation surface direction, thereby improving the operability of the handle portion 8b.

  In the present embodiment, a lock member 52 that can fix the shutter 8 in the closed position (first position) is provided. This prevents exposure of the drum upper surface (protected member) and movement of the center of gravity due to opening of the shutter 8 during cartridge operation, thereby realizing reliable protection and improved operability.

[Second Embodiment]
<Overall configuration of electrophotographic image forming apparatus>
8A is a vertical right side view of the image forming apparatus 100 in the present embodiment, and FIG. 8B is a partially enlarged view of FIG. This apparatus 100 is different from the apparatus 100 in the first embodiment described above in that the so-called integral type cartridge 50 is a so-called separation type, and the developing device 4 is detachable from the main body 100 with a developing cartridge 40 (40y, 40m, 40c, 40k). Constituent members and portions common to the apparatus 100 in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  In the first to fourth image forming stations 50 (50y, 50m, 50c, 50k), the drum 1, the charging device 2, and the cleaning device 6 are disposed at predetermined positions of the main body 100 as drum units. The developing device 4 for each drum unit is a developing cartridge 40 (40y, 40m, 40c, 40k) that is detachable from the main body 100. Each cartridge 40 is supported by a tray 60. When the door 15 is closed, the tray 60 is positioned and fixed at the image forming position PS in the main body 100A.

  In this state, each cartridge 40 supported by the tray 60 is held at a developable position where the developing roller 4a contacts the drum 1 of the corresponding drum unit with a predetermined contact or with a predetermined gap. Yes. Further, a drive output section (not shown) on the main body 100A side is coupled to a drive input section (not shown) of each cartridge 40. In addition, an electrical output section (not shown) on the main body 100A side is electrically coupled to an electrical input section (not shown) on each cartridge 50 side.

  In this state, the apparatus 100 is ready for an image forming operation. The operation for forming a full-color image is the same as that of the apparatus 100 in the first embodiment.

<Cartridge replacement method>
The door 15 is opened as shown in FIG. 9B from the closed state of FIG. Then, by the operation of an interlocking mechanism (not shown) such as a link mechanism that interlocks with the opening movement of the door 15, the drive input unit on the cartridge 40 side and the electrical input unit are coupled to the drive output unit on the main body 100 </ b> A side and the electrical output unit. Is released. Further, the positioning and fixing of the tray 60 and the cartridge 40 are released. Then, the tray 60 moves downward in the main body 100A horizontally from the image forming position PS in FIG. 9A to a predetermined inner position I as shown in FIG. 9B.

  The downward movement of the tray 60 is performed by the downward movement of the left and right guide members 104 (104L, 104R (not shown)) that support the left and right sides of the tray 60. The left and right guide members 104 are members that are long in the front-rear direction, are engaged with the left and right frame portions of the tray 60, and support the tray 60 so as to be slidable substantially horizontally in the front-rear direction. The tray 60 moved downward from the image forming position PS to the inner position I has a handle 60b provided in the front frame portion exposed from the opening 101. Therefore, the user holds the handle 60a.

  Then, the tray 60 is stopped from the inner position I in FIG. 9B located inside the main body 100A to the outer position O located outside the main body 100A from the opening 101 as shown in FIG. Fully pull out until further pull-out movement is regulated by (shown). As a result, the entire cartridge 40 supported by the tray 60 passes through the opening 101 and is exposed to the outside of the main body 100A, and the upper surfaces of all the cartridges 40 are opened. The state in which the tray 60 is pulled out horizontally to the outer position O is stably maintained by the left and right guide members 104.

  In a state where the tray 60 is pulled out to the outer position O, each cartridge 40 is detachably supported upward from the tray 60 as shown in FIG. The tray 60 supports the individual cartridges 40 by moving the cartridges 40 from the upper side to the lower side. The tray 60 supports each cartridge 40 roughly at each support portion. With this configuration, the cartridge 40 can be easily replaced.

  In the apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the vertical direction is the operation direction when the cartridge 40 is attached to and detached from the main body 100A (tray 60). The cartridge 40 is attached and detached by the user holding the handle portion 9b provided on the cartridge 40 and protruding in the operation direction. The user grasps the handle portion 9b, lifts the cartridge 40 upward from the tray 60, and removes it from the support portion. Further, the handle portion 9b is gripped, and the cartridge 40 is lowered from above the tray 60 to be inserted into the support portion to be supported. The handle portion 9b will be described later.

  The tray 60 is movable in the horizontal direction, and supports the cartridge 40 so that the cartridge 40 can be taken out right above the outer position O, and supports the cartridge 40 by moving the cartridge downward.

  When the tray 40 is pulled out to the outside position O and the cartridge 40 to be exchanged is exchanged as described above, the tray 60 is pushed from the outside position O to the inside position I in the main body 100A ((b) of FIG. 9). When the tray 60 is sufficiently pushed in, a stopper (not shown) on the tray 60 side comes into contact with a stopper (not shown) on the main body 100A side, and further pushing movement of the tray 60 is restricted.

  Then, the door 15 is closed ((a) of FIG. 9). The left and right guide members 104 are moved upward by the operation of the interlocking mechanism that is interlocked with the closing movement of the door 15, so that the tray 60 is moved upward from the inner position I and is positioned and fixed at the predetermined image forming position PS. . Each cartridge 40 supported by the tray 60 is also positioned and fixed at a predetermined developable position.

  Further, the drive output section on the main body 100A side is coupled to the drive input section of each cartridge 40. In addition, the electrical output unit on the main body 100A side is electrically coupled to the electrical input unit on each cartridge 40 side. As a result, the apparatus 100 returns to a state in which an image forming operation is possible.

<Open / close development shutter>
10A is a right side view of the cartridge 40, and FIG. 10B is a transverse right side view of the cartridge 50. The cartridge 40 includes a developing roller 4a for supplying a developer to the drum 1 to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the drum 1, a coating roller 4b for applying (supplying) the developer to the roller 4a, and a developer. a developer container 4c for accommodating t, a developer stirring rotating member 4d, and the like. These are horizontally long assemblies having the axial direction of the developing roller 4a as a longitudinal direction and integrally assembled to the cartridge frame 41 in a predetermined arrangement relationship.

  An opening 41b is formed along the length of the upper surface of the frame 41, and the upper surface portion of the developing roller 4a is exposed from the opening 41b to the outside of the cartridge. The upper surface portion of the developing roller 4a exposed from the opening 41b faces the lower surface portion of the drum 1 of the drum unit 50 ((b) in FIG. 8). The cartridge 40 has the developing shutter 9 as a protective member for protecting the upper surface portion of the developing roller exposed from the opening 41b to the outside of the cartridge as a protected portion as described above.

  The shutter 9 is movably disposed between a closed position (first position) covering the upper surface portion of the developing roller exposed from the opening 41b and an open position (second position) exposing the upper surface portion of the developing roller. ing. The shutter 9 integrally includes a protective portion 9a having a cross-sectional arc shape covering the upper surface portion of the developing roller, and a handle portion 9b provided at a central portion in the longitudinal direction on the outer surface side of the protective portion 9a. That is, the shutter 9 as a protection member is provided with a handle portion (handle shape) 9b for the user to hold the cartridge 40.

  The shutter 9 includes a pair of arm portions 9c provided at both longitudinal end portions (left and right end portions) of the protection portion 9a, and a pair of opening projection portions 9d protruding from the respective arm portions 9c in the developing roller axial direction. And integrally. The left and right arm portions 9c are pivotally supported by the rotation shaft 9r with respect to the left and right side plates of the frame 41, respectively. Thus, the shutter 9 is held so as to be rotatable about the rotation shaft 9r with respect to the frame 41.

  The shutter 9 is positioned immediately above the opening 41b as shown by the solid lines in FIGS. 10A and 10B, and is closed as shown in the alternate long and short dash line. It can be moved to an open position where it is retracted from the portion 41b and the upper surface of the developing roller is exposed. The arm portion 9c is constantly urged to rotate in the direction of moving the shutter 9 to the closed position by the urging force of a torsion spring (urging member) 9g disposed between the arm portion 9c. Thereby, the shutter 9 moves in the direction of the closed position in the free state and is held in the state received by the frame 41 in the closed position.

  The handle portion 9b provided on the shutter 9 protrudes in the up-down direction, that is, in the operation direction when the cartridge 40 is attached to and detached from the main body 100A (tray 60). Note that the arm portion 9c, the protruding portion 9d, the rotating shaft 9r, and the biasing member 9g on the left side of the cartridge 40 are not shown, but are arranged symmetrically with those on the right side of the cartridge 40.

  Here, the opening position of the shutter 9 is set so that the protection portion 9a is retracted to a position beyond the optical path of the exposure light L as shown in FIG. At the time of image formation, the exposure light L passes between the protection portion 9a of the shutter 9 and the cartridge 40 and irradiates the drum 1. Referring to FIG. 9C and FIG. 11, a pair of developing shutters that project inwardly on the inner surface side of the left frame 102L and the inner surface side of the right frame 102R (not shown) of the main body 100A are opened and closed symmetrically. Guides 130 (130L and 130R (not shown)) are provided.

  The guide 130 has four sets of inclined surfaces 130 a and abutting surfaces 130 b corresponding to the cartridges 40. The inclined surface 130a is disposed so as to be above the opening protrusion 9d of the cartridge 40 mounted on the tray 60 when the tray 60 is in the inner position (retracted position) I. The abutting surface 130b is substantially horizontal and is disposed adjacent to the inclined surface 130a.

  Next, an opening / closing operation of the shutter 9 of each cartridge 40 will be described with reference to FIG. As described above, the tray 60 is configured to move up and down between the image forming position PS and the inner position (retracted position) I in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the door 15 by the interlocking mechanism. The apparatus 100 of the present embodiment is configured such that the shutter 9 is opened and closed at this time. First, when the tray 60 supporting the cartridge 40 is at the inner position I in FIG. 9B or the outer position O in FIG. 9C, each cartridge 40 is in a free state. Therefore, the shutter 9 of each cartridge 40 is held in the closed position by the action of the biasing means 8g.

  The tray 60 (FIG. 9B, FIG. 11A) that supports the cartridge 40 and is located at the inner position I moves upward in conjunction with the closing operation of the door 15. Then, the left and right opening projections 9d of the shutter 9 come into contact with the inclined surfaces 130a of the left and right guides 130 on the main body 100 side ((b) of FIG. 11). Although FIG. 11 shows the case of the cartridge 40k, the same applies to the other cartridges 40y, 40m, and 40c, and the operation proceeds for all the cartridges 40 simultaneously.

  When the tray 60 moves further upward, as shown in FIG. 11C, the projection 9d is pushed leftward in the drawing along the inclined surface 130a, so that the shutter 9 is urged toward the open position around the rotation shaft 9r. It starts to rotate against the biasing force of the means 9g. When the tray 60 is further raised, the protrusion 9d comes into contact with the abutting surface 130b ((d) in FIG. 11). Then, when the tray 60 is pushed further leftward along the abutting surface 130b and the tray 60 finally moves to the image forming position PS, the shutter 9 resists the urging force of the urging means 8g to a predetermined opening position. And is held at that position ((e) of FIG. 11).

  As described above, in a state where the tray 60 is located at the image forming position PS, the shutters 9 of all the cartridges 40 are moved to the open position and held at that position. For this reason, the grip portions 9b of all the cartridges 40 are in a state where they fall down below the height level of the upper surface portion of the developing roller. When the door 15 is opened from the closed position ((a) in FIG. 9) to the open position ((b) in FIG. 9), the above-mentioned operation is performed as the tray 60 moves downward from the image forming position PS to the inner position I. In reverse, the shutter 9 of each cartridge 40 moves from the open position to the closed position.

  That is, when the tray 60 moves downward from the image forming position PS to the inner position I in conjunction with the opening operation of the door 15, the shutter 9 of each cartridge is opened around the rotation shaft 9r by the urging force of the urging member 9g. Move from position to closed position. In the state where the tray 60 is lowered to the predetermined inner position I ((b) in FIG. 9), the shutters 9 of all the cartridges 40 are in a free state and are moved to the closed position and held at that position. Yes.

  Therefore, the grip portions 8b of all the cartridges 40 are returned from the tilted posture at the image forming position PS to the posture protruding in the vertical direction, that is, the operation direction when the cartridge 40 is attached to and detached from the main body 100A (tray 60). In a state where the tray 60 is pulled out to the outer position O, each cartridge 40 is detachably supported upward from the tray 60 as shown in FIG. The tray 60 supports the individual cartridges 40 by moving the cartridges 40 from the upper side to the lower side. The tray 60 supports each cartridge 40 roughly at each support portion.

  With this configuration, the cartridge 40 can be easily replaced. In the apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the vertical direction is the operation direction when the cartridge 40 is attached to and detached from the main body 100A (tray 60). The cartridge 40 is attached / detached by the user holding the handle portion 9b provided on the shutter 9 and protruding in the operation direction. The user grasps the handle portion 9b, lifts the cartridge 40 upward from the tray 60, and removes it from the support portion. Further, the handle portion 9b is gripped, and the cartridge 40 is lowered from above the tray 60 to be inserted into the support portion to be supported.

  As described above, by providing the handle portion 9b on the openable / closable shutter (protective member) 9 in the cartridge 40, it is easy to arrange both the shutter 9 and the handle portion 9b on the operation surface side of the cartridge 40. Yes. For example, even when the main body 100A and the cartridge 40 are downsized, it is possible to realize both the protection of the process means constituting the cartridge 40 or the components of the process means and the operability of the cartridge 40. In this embodiment, when the shutter 9 is closed, the handle portion 9b protrudes in the operation surface direction, thereby improving the operability of the handle portion 9b.

[Other Embodiments]
(1) In the first and second embodiments, the tray 60 that moves linearly in the horizontal direction with respect to the installation surface A of the main body 100A has been described. However, the tray 60 is not limited to this. The tray 60 may be configured to move linearly, for example, diagonally upward or diagonally downward with respect to the installation surface A of the main body 100A.

  (2) In the first and second embodiments, the tray 60 moves linearly in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 50 or 40 to be supported (accommodated or mounted). The longitudinal direction of the cartridge 50 or 40 is the longitudinal direction of the drum 1 or the longitudinal direction of the developing roller 4a. However, the tray 60 may be linearly movable in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 50 or 40 with respect to the main body 100A.

  (3) The tray 60 may be removed from the holding member 103 or 104, that is, the main body 100A by releasing the stopper.

  (4) In the first and second embodiments, the cartridge attachment / detachment position is a position where the cartridge 50 or 40 is attached to or detached from the tray 60. The cartridge attaching / detaching position is located on the downstream side in the pulling-out direction of the tray 60 as compared with the case where the cartridge 50 or 40 is located at the image forming position PS.

  The cartridge attaching / detaching position is a position where the user can take out the cartridge 50 or 40 supported by the tray 60 from the outside of the main body 100A. And it is a position where the user can support the cartridge 50 or 40 on the tray 60 from the outside of the main body 100A.

  Therefore, the cartridge attaching / detaching position is not limited to the outside of the main body 100A, and may be a position where the cartridge 50 or 40 can be attached to or detached from the tray 60 even inside the main body 100A.

  (5) The number of cartridges 50 or 40 supported on the tray 60 is not limited to four in the first and second embodiments. The number of cartridges 50 or 40 may be two, three, or five or more. In the first and second embodiments, an example of a color electrophotographic image forming apparatus having a plurality of cartridges 50 or 40 has been shown. However, the present invention can also be applied to a monochrome image forming apparatus having one cartridge.

  (6) In the image forming apparatuses of the first and second embodiments, the primary transfer device 5 can be a recording medium conveyance transfer belt device that holds and conveys the recording material P.

  (7) Both the first and second embodiments describe a configuration in which the image forming stations are arranged substantially horizontally. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the cartridge 50 (or 40) used in the apparatus 100 in which the image forming stations are arranged substantially vertically can be configured similarly. In this apparatus 100, reference numeral 5A denotes a recording medium conveyance transfer belt apparatus which is disposed inside the door 15 and moves to the outside and inside of the main body 100A together with the door 15 to be opened and closed.

  The apparatus 100 forms a color image on the surface of the recording medium P by sequentially transporting the recording medium P to the transfer portions of a plurality of image forming stations arranged substantially vertically by the belt device 5A. is there. Constituent members / portions common to the apparatus 100 of the first and second embodiments are denoted by common reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  (8) Further, the present invention is not limited to the cartridge 50 or 40 used in the inline type image forming apparatus. A cartridge used for a so-called rotary image forming apparatus or a cartridge used for a so-called monochrome image forming apparatus can have the same configuration.

  100..Electrophotographic image forming apparatus, 100A..Main body, P..Recording medium, 50, 40..Cartridge, 8, 9 ... Protective member (drum shutter, developing shutter), 8b, 9b..Handle part , 1, 4a..Protected part (electrophotographic photosensitive drum, developing roller), 52..Lock member, 54..Release member, t..Developer, 110..Main body side action member, 120..No. 2 body side action member

The present invention solves the above-described problems of the prior art, and even when the photoconductor is provided in a moving mechanism that moves in and out of the main body of the image forming apparatus, the photoconductor is reliably protected. For the purpose.

In order to achieve the above object, a typical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, and a plurality of photoconductors, each of which protects the photoconductor. A protective member, and an outer position where the plurality of photoconductors are arranged outside the apparatus main body by moving relative to the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus, and the plurality of photoconductors inside the apparatus main body. A moving mechanism that can take an inner position to be disposed, and the moving mechanism moves from the outer position to the inner position to act on the protective member, so that the protective member is moved from the first position that covers the photoconductor. And an action part that moves the photosensitive member to a second position where the photosensitive member is exposed .

According to the present invention, even when the photosensitive member is provided in a moving mechanism that moves in and out of the main body of the image forming apparatus, the photosensitive member can be reliably protected .

An endless transfer belt (endless belt : belt member ) 5a made of a dielectric and having flexibility as an intermediate transfer member is stretched around the rollers 70, 71, 72 and 73. The lower surface of the belt 5 a is in contact with the upper surface of the drum 1 of each cartridge 50. Each roller 73 is in contact with the upper surface of the drum 1 of the corresponding cartridge 50 via the belt 5a. The contact portion between the drum 1 of each cartridge 50 and the belt 5a is a primary transfer nip portion T1.

In the apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the replacement of the cartridge 50 is performed by supporting (accommodating) the cartridge 50 on a cartridge tray (cartridge support member, drawer member: hereinafter also referred to as tray) 60 as a moving mechanism for the purpose of improving usability. To the state. The tray 60 is pulled out to the front side of the main body 100A. Thus, the user can exchange the cartridge 50 from the front side of the main body 100A (so-called front access).

The tray 60 supports the cartridge 50, passes through the opening 101 where the door 15 is opened, and passes through the opening 101, and the inside position I (in FIG. 2B) located inside (inside) the main body 100 </ b>A; It can move between an outer position O (FIG. 2C ) located outside (outside) the main body 100A. The tray 60 has a large frame portion, and the inside of the large frame portion is divided into four in the front-rear direction by partition members, which are used as support portions for the four cartridges 50, respectively. Each cartridge 50 is supported on the support portion with the longitudinal direction of the cartridge (the axial direction of the drum 1) being the left-right direction.

Claims (9)

  A cartridge that is detachably mounted on an apparatus main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium, and includes a protection member and a protected portion, and the protection member covers the protected portion. A cartridge which is movable between a first position and a second position where the protected part is exposed, and has a handle part for the user to grip the cartridge on the protective member.   2. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein when the protection member is in the first position, the grip portion protrudes in an operation direction when the cartridge is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body.   The cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising: a lock member that holds the protection member in the first position; and a release member that releases the holding of the protection member by the lock member.   The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the protected portion is a rotatable electrophotographic photosensitive drum on which a latent image is formed.   4. The rotatable developing roller according to claim 1, wherein the protected portion is a rotatable developing roller that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum using a developer. The cartridge described.   An electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which a cartridge is detachably attached to an apparatus main body to form an image on a recording medium, and includes: a) a protection member and a protected portion, and the protection member is the protection target A cartridge that is movable between a first position that covers the portion and a second position that exposes the protected portion; and b) the cartridge having a grip portion for the user to grip the cartridge on the protective member. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: a main body side action member that holds the protective member in a state where the protective member is positioned at the second position in a state where the protective member is mounted on the main body of the apparatus.   The cartridge includes a lock member that holds the protective member in the first position, and a release member that releases the holding of the protective member by the lock member, and the apparatus main body is in a state where the cartridge is mounted. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a second main body side action member that holds the release member in a released state.   The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the protected portion is a rotatable electrophotographic photosensitive drum on which a latent image is formed.   8. The electron according to claim 6, wherein the protected portion is a rotatable developing roller that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum using a developer. Photo image forming apparatus.