JP2014232146A - Image forming apparatus and cartridge push-in mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compact and inexpensive configuration for pushing a cartridge with a cover, in order to solve the problem of a retreat mechanism of a cartridge push-in part, which is mounted on the cover so as to push the cartridge in an insertion direction, thereby increasing device size.SOLUTION: In order to push a cartridge PC in a mounting position A of a device body 20A along with opening/closing operation of an opening/closing door 21, a cartridge push-in mechanism 40, having a four-bar linkage mechanism and formed of a frame of the device body 20A, a shaft part 21a, the opening/closing door 21, a shaft part 41, a control panel 23, a shaft part 42, a body link 43, and a shaft part 44, interlocks with opening/closing operation of the opening/closing door 21.

Description

  According to the present invention, a cartridge is detachable, and an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium using an image forming process and a cartridge is pushed into the image forming apparatus body when the cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus body. The present invention relates to a cartridge pushing mechanism.

  Here, the image forming apparatus is an apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium using image forming processes of various known image forming principles and methods such as an electrophotographic process, an electrostatic recording process, and a magnetic recording process. For example, a copying machine, a printer (for example, a laser printer, an LED printer, etc.), a facsimile machine, a word processor, an image display device (an electronic blackboard or an electronic white board), and the like are included. The recording medium is an image on which an image is formed by an image forming apparatus, and includes, for example, paper, an OHT sheet, a secondary transfer member, and the like.

  The cartridge is a cartridge in which a part or all of the image forming unit having an image carrier on which an image is formed and an image forming process means acting on the image carrier is integrally formed. Then, it is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body, and contributes to an image forming process for forming an image on a recording medium. The main body of the image forming apparatus is a component part of the image forming apparatus excluding the cartridge in the cartridge type image forming apparatus.

  As an image carrier, an image can be formed by an electrophotographic photosensitive member in an electrophotographic process, an electrostatic recording dielectric in an electrostatic recording process, a magnetic recording magnetic material in a magnetic recording process, and various other image forming principles and methods. The member is mentioned. The image forming process means is an image forming process device that acts on the image carrier to form an image.

  Hereinafter, for convenience, a cartridge-type electrophotographic image forming apparatus will be described as an example. Examples of the cartridge include a process cartridge and a developing cartridge.

  The process cartridge can be removed from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus by integrally forming at least one of charging means, developing means, and cleaning means as an electrophotographic process means and an electrophotographic photosensitive member as an image carrier. It is to be attached to. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body is hereinafter referred to as an apparatus main body.

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

  A process cartridge having an electrophotographic photosensitive member and developing means integrally is called a so-called integral type. A process cartridge integrally including an electrophotographic photosensitive member and process means other than the developing means is referred to as a so-called separation type. That is, a process cartridge in which the developing means is provided in a developing unit separate from the process cartridge and forms an image in a pair with the developing unit 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 developing cartridge includes a developing roller (a developer carrying member that applies a developer to the electrophotographic photosensitive member). Further, the developer roller contains a powder developer (toner) used to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and is detachably mounted on the apparatus main body. .

  In the case of a developing cartridge, the electrophotographic photosensitive member is attached to the apparatus main body or a cartridge support member. Alternatively, the electrophotographic photosensitive member is provided in the 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 member 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 member. The cartridge includes an image forming function unit that is detachably attached to the apparatus main body and contributes to an image forming process for forming an image on a recording medium.

  In order to obtain a good image in a cartridge type image forming apparatus, it is necessary that the cartridge is correctly mounted at a predetermined mounting position in the apparatus main body. In view of this, the present applicant has proposed a means configuration in Patent Document 1 to eliminate cartridge mounting failure (half-mounted state).

  As shown in FIG. 12 (a), the configuration of the means is such that two swing slider rotation mechanisms (41, 42, 43) (47, 42) are provided on the opening / closing cover 15 of the image forming apparatus, A spring 44 and a lever 45 are provided. When the cover 15 is closed, the lever 45 pushes the process cartridge B to fit the boss 18a into the groove 16c, and when the cover 15 is closed, the mechanism (41, 42, 43) is reversed as shown in FIG. The lever 45 is separated from the process cartridge B.

  When the cover 15 is opened, the mechanism (47, 42, 42) reverses the mechanism (41, 42, 43) and causes the lever 45 to protrude. By doing so, after the process cartridge is securely pushed to the proper position, the push lever 45 is retracted from the process cartridge. For this reason, the portion to be pushed when the process cartridge is pushed in is not limited, and it is possible to eliminate the mounting failure without pressurizing the mounted process cartridge.

JP 2000-293087 A

  In recent years, a small and inexpensive image forming apparatus is required. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to further develop the prior art and to construct a cartridge push-in mechanism portion at a low cost while further downsizing and simplifying.

  A typical configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object is that a cartridge contributing to an image forming process for forming an image is detachably mounted at a predetermined mounting position of a cartridge mounting portion of the apparatus main body. In this state, the image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium. The image forming apparatus is provided in the apparatus main body so that the cartridge passes therethrough in order to detachably attach the cartridge to the attachment position. An opening, a guide means for guiding the cartridge from the opening to the mounting position, and a guide means for guiding the cartridge from the mounting position to the opening, and a guide means for positioning the cartridge at the mounting position. A positioning portion provided, a closed position provided in the apparatus main body for closing the opening, and an opening for opening the opening. An opening / closing member that is movable between the opening and the opening, and a swinging member that changes an angle in conjunction with the movement of the opening / closing member, and the opening / closing member is moved to the open position and opened from the opening. When the cartridge is guided by the guide means and inserted into the cartridge mounting portion and the opening / closing member is moved to the closed position, the cartridge is in a half-inserted state that has not reached the mounting position. The swing member presses against the cartridge as a pressing member for pressing the cartridge into the mounting position.

  According to the present invention, the cartridge push-in mechanism can be downsized and provided at low cost.

It is a vertical right side schematic diagram of the printer in the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a cartridge portion in FIG. 1. 2A and 2B are external perspective views of the printer, in which FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating a state in which the door is closed, and FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the door is opened and a cartridge is being inserted or removed. It is the external appearance perspective view of a cartridge, (a) is the figure seen from the drive side, (b) is the figure seen from the non-drive side. FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the left inner frame that is the non-driving side of the apparatus main body, and (b) is a partial perspective view of the right inner frame that is the driving side. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a drive coupling with a positioning function that is relatively disposed on the cartridge side and the apparatus main body side. It is a vertical right side schematic diagram of the printer when the door is opened. It is explanatory drawing (the 1) to the cartridge of a half insertion state, and its pushing. It is explanatory drawing (the 21) to the cartridge of a half insertion state, and its pushing. FIG. 9 is an external perspective view of a printer according to a second embodiment, where (a) is a state in which a door is closed, and (b) is a diagram in a state in which a door is opened and a cartridge is being inserted or removed. . It is explanatory drawing of the cartridge pushing-in mechanism in 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of a prior art example.

<First Embodiment>
As a cartridge type image forming apparatus to which the cartridge pushing mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention can be applied, there are a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, and a composite device thereof. In the following embodiments, a laser beam printer using an electrophotographic process will be described as an example.

(1) Overall Schematic Configuration of Laser Beam Printer FIG. 3A is an external perspective view of the laser beam printer 20 in this embodiment, and an open / close door (top cover) 21 as an open / close member is closed. It shows the state when (B) is when the cartridge PC is being inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 20B of the apparatus main body 20A of the printer 20 with the open / close door 21 open, or when the cartridge PC is being removed from the mounting portion 20B. Is shown. FIG. 1 is a schematic right side view of the printer 20, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the cartridge PC portion in FIG. 1, showing a part of the cartridge PC cut away.

  This printer 20 is a recording medium in a state in which a cartridge PC contributing to an image forming process for forming an image is detachably mounted at a predetermined mounting position (image forming position) A of a cartridge mounting portion 20B in the apparatus main body 20A. An image forming apparatus that forms an image on S. That is, a toner image corresponding to the electrical image information input from the external host device 60 to the control circuit unit (control board) 50 is formed on a sheet-like recording medium (hereinafter referred to as a sheet) S such as a sheet to form an image. It can be output as an object (print). The host device 60 is a personal computer (PC), an image reader, a network terminal, a facsimile, a word processor, or the like.

  Here, with respect to the printer 20 of the present embodiment, the front side or the front side (front side) is the side facing the operation panel (printer operation unit) 23 provided in the apparatus main body 20A. The back side or rear side (back side) is the opposite side. Left and right are left and right when the apparatus main body 20A is viewed from the front side. Up and down are top and bottom in gravity. The right side is the driving side and the left side is the non-driving side.

  The printer 20 includes a drum-type electrophotographic photosensitive member (hereinafter referred to as a drum) 1 as an image carrier on which a latent image is formed. The drum 1 is composed of a metal cylinder having a negatively charged photosensitive layer formed on the surface thereof, and is driven to rotate at a predetermined peripheral speed in the clockwise direction of an arrow in FIGS. Further, it has a charging roller 2 as a process means acting on the drum 1, a laser scanner unit 3 as an exposure device, a developing device 4, a transfer roller 5, and a cleaning device 6.

  The charging roller 2 uniformly charges the surface of the drum 1. The laser scanner unit 3 outputs a laser beam L modulated in accordance with image information, and performs main scanning exposure on the surface of the rotating drum 1 that has been charged. Thereby, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the exposure pattern is formed on the surface of the drum 1. The latent image is visualized as a toner image by the developing roller 4 a of the developing device 4.

  A feeding cassette 7 in which the sheet S is stored is disposed in the lower part of the apparatus main body 20A. The pair of sheet separating and feeding rollers 8 is driven at a predetermined control timing, and the sheet S in the feeding cassette 7 is separated and fed. The sheet S passes through a sheet conveyance path 12 including a sheet conveyance roller pair 9, a registration roller pair 10, and a pre-transfer guide 11, and a predetermined control timing is applied to a transfer nip T which is a contact portion between the drum 1 and the transfer roller 5. Introduced in Then, the toner image on the drum 1 side is sequentially transferred to the sheet S that is nipped and conveyed through the transfer nip T.

  The sheet S exiting the transfer nip T is separated from the surface of the drum 1, passes over the guide 13, and is introduced into the fixing device 14. On the other hand, after the sheet is separated, the transfer residual toner is removed by the cleaning blade 6a of the cleaning device 6, and the drum surface is repeatedly used for image formation. The fixing device 14 includes a fixing roller 14a having a built-in heater and a pressure roller 14b. The sheet S is nipped and conveyed by a fixing nip portion which is a pressure contact portion of the roller pair, and heat and pressure are applied. As a result, the unfixed toner image on the sheet S is fixed as a fixed image.

  The sheet S exiting the fixing device 14 is conveyed upward in the inner side of the apparatus main body 20A by a sheet conveyance path 19 including conveyance roller pairs 15 and 16, a discharge roller pair 17, and a discharge port portion 18. Then, it is discharged as an image formed product (print) onto a discharge tray 22 provided on a top cover (upper surface plate) 21 of the apparatus main body 20A.

(2) Cartridge PC
In the printer 20 of the present embodiment, the four process devices, the drum 1, the charging roller 2, the developing device 4, and the cleaning device 6, are integrated into the common cartridge frame 31 with a predetermined mutual arrangement relationship. It is made into a cartridge. That is, in the printer 20 of the present embodiment, a so-called integrated process cartridge PC that is detachably mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 20B of the apparatus main body 20A is used.

  4A and 4B are external perspective views of the cartridge PC in the present embodiment. FIG. 4A is a perspective view seen from the driving side, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view seen from the non-driving side. The cartridge PC is a horizontally long assembly whose longitudinal direction is the direction of the rotation axis 0-0 of the drum 1. The developing device 4 side is the front side, and the cleaning device 6 side is the back side. When viewed from the front side, the right side (one end side) is the driving side, and the left side (the other end side) is the non-driving side.

  The cartridge PC is attached to and detached from the cartridge mounting portion 20B of the apparatus main body 20A in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, insertion is performed with the back side first, and removal is performed in the opposite direction. G1 indicates the insertion direction (mounting direction), and G2 indicates the removal direction (extraction direction).

  On the outer surfaces of the drive-side and non-drive-side side plates 31R and 31L of the frame 31, cylindrical first and second attachment / detachment guide bosses (attachment / removal restricting portions: guided portions) 33Ra, 33Rb, 33La, 33Lb, respectively. Are provided symmetrically.

  In the side plates 31R and 31L on the driving side and the non-driving side, the first bosses 33Ra and 33La are provided on the same axis as the rotation axis 0-0 of the drum 1, respectively. The second bosses 33Rb and 33Lb are provided at a predetermined interval upstream of the first bosses 33Ra and 33La in the insertion direction G1 in which the cartridge PC is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 20B of the apparatus main body 20A. ing.

  A driven coupling 34 is disposed inside the first boss 33Ra on the driving side. The driven coupling 34 is provided with a twisted triangular coupling, which is exposed to the outside from the tip of the first boss 33Ra.

(3) Cartridge Replacement Method As the cartridge PC is used for image formation, the developer (toner) contained in the developing device 4 is consumed. Therefore, for example, the cartridge PC is provided with means (not shown) for detecting the developer amount of the cartridge PC, and the control circuit unit 50 compares the detected remaining amount value with a preset threshold value for cartridge life notification.

  When the detected remaining amount value is smaller than the threshold value, a life warning about the cartridge PC is displayed on the display unit 23a (for example, a liquid crystal display) of the operation panel 23. This prompts the user to prepare a replacement cartridge or to replace the cartridge, thereby maintaining the quality of the output image.

  In the printer 20 of the present embodiment, an opening 24 is provided on the upper surface side of the apparatus main body 20A. The opening 24 is an opening through which the cartridge PC passes in order to insert the cartridge PC into the cartridge mounting portion 20B in the apparatus main body 20A and to take out the cartridge PC from the cartridge mounting portion 20B. The top cover 21 including the discharge tray 22 of the apparatus main body 20A is closed at the closed position H1 (FIGS. 1 and 3A) for closing the opening 24 and the open position H2 for opening the opening 24 (FIG. 3). (B) and FIG. 7) as an opening / closing door that can move between the opening and closing members.

  The opening / closing door 21 is connected to the frame of the apparatus main body 20 </ b> A so that the opening / closing rotation is possible about a hinge shaft 21 a on the back side. In other words, the open / close door 21 can be moved to the closed position H1 where the opening 24 is closed by being tilted and rotated to the near side with respect to the upper surface of the apparatus main body 20A around the hinge shaft 21a. Further, the closed opening / closing door 21 can be moved upright from the upper surface of the apparatus main body 20A to the back side by a predetermined angle around the hinge shaft 21a, and can be moved to the open position H2 where the opening 24 is opened. Thereby, the opening part 24 is largely opened.

  To replace the cartridge PC, the opening / closing door 21 is opened. Thereby, the opening 24 of the apparatus main body 20A is opened. Then, the user replaces the cartridge PC through the opening 24. That is, it is a front access system in which the cartridge PC is replaced from the front side of the apparatus.

  5A is a partial perspective view of the left inner frame 25L that is the non-driving side of the apparatus main body 20A, and FIG. 5B is a partial perspective view of the right inner frame 25R that is the driving side of the apparatus main body 20A. FIG. Guide means for guiding the cartridge PC from the opening 24 to the mounting position A of the cartridge mounting portion 20B and guiding from the mounting position A to the opening 24 symmetrically to the left and right inner frames 25L and 25R, respectively. 26L and 26R are formed. The guide means 26L and 26R are symmetrical guide grooves that are inclined so as to be lowered forward when viewed from the insertion direction G1 of the cartridge PC.

  In the groove of the non-driving side guide groove 26L, a cartridge retraction spring (push spring) 27 is disposed at a position slightly in front of the end portion 26La of the groove. The spring 27 has a base fixed to a shaft 27a disposed inside the left inner frame 25L, and is bent into a dogleg shape. The bent portion is projected into the guide groove 26L. Further, a drive coupling entrance / exit hole 28 is provided in the left inner frame 25L at a position near the terminal end portion 26Ra of the groove in the guide groove 26R on the drive side.

  The opening 24 is greatly opened by sufficiently raising the open / close door 21 to the open position H2. When the cartridge PC is not mounted, the cartridge mounting portion 20B in the apparatus main body 20A can be seen from the opening 24 including the guide grooves 26L and 26R on the left and right sides.

  The cartridge PC is attached to the apparatus main body 20 as follows. The opening / closing door 21 is opened to greatly open the opening 24. When the open / close door 21 is opened, a kill switch (not shown) is turned off, and a power supply circuit (not shown) of the printer 20 is held off. The cartridge PC is held by holding the developing device 4 side (cartridge front side), and the cleaning device 6 side (cartridge back side) is first inserted from the opening 24 into the cartridge mounting portion 20B in the insertion direction G1.

  Then, the left and right first bosses 33Ra and 33La of the cartridge PC are engaged with the left and right guide grooves 26L and 26R of the apparatus main body 20A, respectively. Furthermore, the left and right second bosses 33Rb and 33Lb are also engaged with the left and right guide grooves 26L and 26R, respectively. The cartridge PC is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 20B by sliding the first bosses 33Ra and 33La and the second bosses 33Rb and 33Lb along the guide grooves 26L and 26R, respectively.

  At this time, the first bosses 33Ra and 33La and the second bosses 33Rb and 33Lb are regulated by the guide grooves 26L and 26R, so that the insertion posture of the cartridge PC is maintained. When the cartridge PC approaches the insertion end point, the first boss 33La on the left side of the cartridge, which is the non-driving side, comes into contact with the cartridge retracting spring 27 disposed in the guide groove 26L on the non-driving side.

  When the cartridge PC is further moved in the insertion direction G1 against the elasticity of the spring 27, the first boss 33La on the left side of the cartridge passes through the portion of the spring 27 while bending the spring 27. When the diameter portion of the first boss 33La passes the bent portion of the spring 27, a force in the cartridge retracting direction is applied to the first boss 33La by the bending reaction force of the spring 27. The first boss 33La as the positioned portion is pressed against the groove end portion 26La as the positioning portion by the force of the spring 27 in the cartridge pull-in direction and positioned. In this state, further insertion movement of the cartridge PC is prevented.

  On the other hand, the first boss 33La on the right side of the cartridge is positioned at the terminal end portion 26Ra of the guide groove 26R on the drive side, and the driven coupling 34 corresponds to the drive coupling entrance / exit hole 28.

  The mounting position A of the cartridge PC is an image forming position where the cartridge PC can perform an image forming operation in the apparatus main body 20A. Specifically, the first boss 33La is positioned by being pressed against the positioning portion 26La by the spring 27, and the driven coupling 34 on the right side of the cartridge corresponds to the driving coupling entrance / exit hole 28. Position. At the mounting position A, the drum 1 of the cartridge PC abuts against the transfer roller 5 in a predetermined manner to form a transfer nip portion T.

  When the open / close door 21 is closed from the open position H2 to the closed position H1, the kill switch is turned on and the power circuit of the power printer 20 is turned on. As a result, the printer 20 is ready for an image forming operation.

  That is, in this state, on the basis of the print start signal, the drive transmission coupling 29 (FIG. 6) on the drive side of the apparatus main body 20A is moved forward and protrudes from the hole 28 into the drive side guide groove 26R to the cartridge PC side. To the driven coupling 34. The drive transmission coupling 29 is provided with a fitting recess having a twisted triangular shape similar to the twisted triangular coupling of the driven coupling 34. That is, drive couplings 34 and 29 having a positioning function are provided on the drive side of the cartridge PC and the apparatus main body 20A.

  The drive transmission coupling 29 and the driven coupling 34 are engaged to position the drive side of the cartridge PC, and drive transmission is performed from the drive transmission coupling 29 side to the driven coupling 34 side. . As a result, the movable parts such as the drum 1 and the developing roller 4a on the cartridge PC side are driven. Further, power is supplied from a power supply unit (not shown) on the apparatus main body side to a power receiving unit (not shown) on the cartridge PC side, and a bias is applied to the charging roller 2 and the developing roller 4a on the cartridge PC side, and the image is thus supplied. A forming operation is performed.

  When a predetermined print job is completed, drive transmission and power supply to the cartridge PC are stopped. When the drive transmission coupling 29 is moved backward and retracted from the hole 28, the coupling to the driven coupling 34 on the cartridge PC side is released. In this state, the printer 20 is held in a standby state until the next print job is input.

  The cartridge PC is removed from the apparatus main body 20 as follows. The opening / closing door 21 is opened to greatly open the opening 24 (FIG. 7). When the open / close door 21 is opened, the kill switch is turned off, and the power supply circuit of the printer 20 is held off. The opening 24 exposes the developing device 4 side (the cartridge front side) of the cartridge PC mounted in the apparatus main body 20A. Therefore, the developing device 4 side of the cartridge PC is grasped, and the cartridge PC is pulled and moved in the direction G2 opposite to the insertion direction G1 against the cartridge pulling force by the spring 27.

  At this time, the drive transmission coupling 29 is moved backward from the hole 28 and the coupling with the driven coupling 34 on the cartridge PC side is released. Therefore, it does not disturb the drawer of the cartridge PC. The first boss 33La on the left side of the cartridge passes through the portion of the spring 27 while bending the spring 27. Further, the left and right first bosses 33La and 33Ra and the second boss 33Lb and 33Rb of the cartridge PC are slid along the left and right guide grooves 26L and 26R of the apparatus main body 20A, respectively, and the cartridge PC is drawn out and moved. .

  At that time, the first bosses 33Ra and 33La and the second bosses 33Rb and 33Lb are regulated by the guide grooves 26L and 26R, so that the drawing posture of the cartridge PC is maintained. Then, the second bosses 33Rb and 33Lb and the first bosses 33Ra and 33La are sequentially removed from the guide grooves 26L and 26R, respectively, and the cartridge PC is taken out from the apparatus main body 20A.

(4) Cartridge Pushing Mechanism In the printer 20 of this embodiment, the cartridge pushing for holding the cartridge PC at a predetermined mounting position (image forming position) A of the cartridge mounting portion 20B without providing a complicated mechanism outside the cartridge PC. A mechanism 40 is provided. That is, the cartridge half-insertion preventing mechanism can be provided to the user at a low cost with a small size.

  In the printer 20 of the present embodiment, the control panel 23 is also used as a constituent member of the cartridge pushing mechanism 40. That is, the panel 23 is disposed on the driving side in the upper part on the front side of the apparatus main body 20 </ b> A, and is a swinging member whose angle changes in conjunction with the movement of the opening / closing door 21. The panel 23 serving as the swinging member functions as a pushing member for pushing the cartridge PC into the mounting position A.

  Hereinafter, the cartridge push-in mechanism 40 will be described more specifically with reference mainly to FIG. 3B and FIG. As described above, the opening / closing door (top cover) 21 serving as the opening / closing member is connected to the frame of the apparatus main body 20A so as to be capable of opening and closing around the hinge shaft 21a on the back side. When the cartridge PC is attached or detached, the opening / closing door 21 is rotated about the hinge shaft 21a in the opening direction to open the opening 24.

  An upper side portion of the opening / closing door 21 and the panel 23 is rotatably connected by a shaft portion 41. In addition, one end of a main body link (link member) 43 is rotatably connected to the lower side portion of the panel 23 by a shaft portion 42. Further, the other end portion of the main body link 43 is rotatably connected to the frame of the apparatus main body 20 </ b> A by the shaft portion 44.

  That is, the cartridge push-in mechanism 40 in this embodiment is a four-bar link comprising the frame of the apparatus main body 20A, the shaft portion 21a, the opening / closing door 21, the shaft portion 41, the panel 23, the shaft portion 42, the main body link 43, and the shaft portion 44. It consists of a mechanism. This four-bar linkage mechanism is an interlocking mechanism that interlocks with the movement of the opening / closing door 21 and constitutes a cartridge pushing mechanism 40. The panel 23 is also used as a link member of this link mechanism. A mechanism configuration in which the panel 23 is attached to the link member of the link mechanism may be employed. A cartridge pushing portion (pushing member) 23 b is formed on the back side of the lower side of the panel 23.

  The panel 23 operates as a swinging member whose angle changes in conjunction with the movement of the opening / closing door 21 by the above-described four-bar linkage mechanism configuration. That is, when the open / close door 21 is moved to the closed position H1, the panel 23 and the main body link 43 of the four-bar linkage mechanism are folded as shown in FIG. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 3A, the panel 23 is a normal disposition position (first position) B with respect to the apparatus main body 20 </ b> A. The opening / closing door 21 is positioned and held substantially flush with the front surface portion.

  When the open / close door 21 is moved from the closed position H1 to the open position H2, the panel 23 and the main body link 43 of the four-bar linkage mechanism are expanded from the folded state of FIG. 1 to the upper side as shown in FIG. Become. Accordingly, the panel 23 is moved and held from the normal arrangement position B in FIG. 1 to the retracted position (second position) C in FIG. The retracted position C is a position that does not interfere with the insertion / removal movement locus of the cartridge PC with respect to the apparatus main body 20A. As described above, in the printer 20 of the present embodiment, the panel 23 operates as a swinging member whose angle changes in conjunction with the opening / closing movement of the opening / closing door 21 which is an opening / closing member.

  Next, the movement and action of the cartridge push-in portion 23b provided on the panel 23 that moves between the regular arrangement position B and the retracted position C in conjunction with the opening / closing movement of the opening / closing door 21 will be described. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing an operation trajectory of the cartridge pushing portion 23b accompanying the movement of the panel 23 interlocked with the opening / closing movement of the opening / closing door 21.

  The pushing portion 23b provided on the panel 23 is a predetermined mounting position A which is a correct position when the cartridge PC is pushed in when the cartridge PC inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 20B of the apparatus main body 20A is in a half-insertion state (mounting failure). It is for moving to. The half-inserted state of the cartridge PC is a state in which the cartridge PC inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 20A has not reached the predetermined mounting position A that is an image forming position.

  The pushing portion 23b of the panel 23 is formed when the cartridge PC inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 20B is in a half-inserted state when the first boss 33Ra on the non-driving side rides on the spring 27 as shown in FIG. Is pushed and moved with respect to the mounting position A.

  That is, in FIG. 3, when the opened opening / closing cover 21 is closed, the panel 23 moves from the retracted position C to the regular arrangement position B in conjunction with the movement of the opening / closing cover 21 from opening to closing. At this time, the pushing portion 23b on the panel 23 side is moved along the locus of the two-dot chain line in the figure, and the pushed portion on the driving side on the front side of the cartridge PC in the half-inserted state with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 20B. Hit 45. In this case, the pressing direction of the pressing force acting on the cartridge pressed portion 45 by the pressing portion 23b is the direction of the arrow D in the drawing, and substantially coincides with the insertion direction G1 of the cartridge PC.

  That is, the pressing direction D in which the panel 23 as the swinging member is pressed against the cartridge P in the half-inserted state as the pressing member is along the insertion direction G1 with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 20B of the cartridge PC. As a result, the cartridge P in the half-inserted state is easily pushed in with the above pressing force.

  When the cartridge PC in the half-inserted state is pushed in, the first boss 33La on the non-driving side passes through the portion of the spring 27 while bending the spring 27 ((a) of FIG. 9). When the diameter portion of the first boss 33La passes the bent portion of the spring 27, a force in the cartridge retracting direction is applied to the first boss 33La by the bending reaction force of the spring 27. The first boss 33La as the positioned portion is pressed against the groove end portion 26La as the positioning portion by the force of the spring 27 in the cartridge pull-in direction (FIG. 9B).

  Further, the first boss 33La on the driving side is positioned at the terminal end portion 26Ra of the guide groove 26R on the driving side, and the driven coupling 34 corresponds to the driving coupling entrance / exit hole 28. Thus, the cartridge PC in the half-inserted state as shown in FIG. 8 is moved to the predetermined mounting position A of the cartridge mounting portion 20B as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 9B shows a state where the open / close door 21 is sufficiently closed. In the position where the cartridge PC is correctly mounted, there is a gap 46 between the pressed portion 45 on the cartridge PC side and the pushing portion 23b on the panel 23 side as shown in the partial enlarged view of FIG. is there. Therefore, the cartridge PC and the pushing portion 23b do not interfere with each other, and the opening / closing door 21 can be sufficiently closed.

  Here, by disposing the cartridge retracting spring 27 on the non-driving side of the apparatus main body 20A, it is easy to recognize the mounting failure of the cartridge PC, but since there is no such spring on the driving side, it is difficult to understand the mounting failure. However, such a mounting failure can be prevented by arranging the pushing portion 23b on the drive side.

  Next, positioning on the drive side of the cartridge PC will be described. As described above, during the image forming operation of the printer 20, the driven coupling 34 disposed on the first boss 33Ra on the driving side of the cartridge PC mounted on the mounting portion 20B is driven on the apparatus main body 20A side. The transmission coupling 29 is coupled to transmit drive. The driven coupling 34 is provided with a twisted triangular coupling. The drive transmission coupling 29 is provided with a fitting fitting portion having a twisted triangular shape similar to the driven coupling 34.

  That is, drive couplings 34 and 29 having a positioning function are provided on the drive side of the cartridge PC and the apparatus main body 20A. Accordingly, the couplings 29 and 34 are engaged with each other to transmit drive, so that if the cartridge PC is in a mounted state to some extent, the couplings 29 and 34 can be pulled and moved to the correct mounting position. Therefore, even if the pushing portion 23b on the panel 23 side is not sufficiently pushed by the gap 46 with the pressed portion 45 on the cartridge PC side, the cartridge PC can be mounted at the correct position by the couplings 29 and 34.

  In the present embodiment, the couplings 29 and 34 with a positioning function are triangular couplings, but any shape coupling may be used as long as it has a positioning function.

  Further, the swinging member 23 whose angle changes in conjunction with the movement of the opening / closing door 21 is on the driving side, and the driving side of the apparatus main body 20A is normally driven by a driving means such as a motor. A space in the lateral direction of the apparatus main body is generated.

  Therefore, in the printer 20 of the present embodiment, the control panel 23 is also used as a constituent member of the cartridge pushing mechanism 40. That is, the panel 23 is disposed on the driving side in the upper part on the front side of the apparatus main body 20 </ b> A, and is a swinging member whose angle changes in conjunction with the movement of the opening / closing door 21. The panel 23 as the swinging member functions as a pushing member for pushing the cartridge PC into the mounting position A. This configuration makes it possible to effectively use the space.

  Further, in the printer 20 of the present embodiment, the cartridge pushing mechanism 40 is configured by the four-bar link mechanism as described above. However, if the direction in which the cartridge PC is pushed in is substantially the same as the direction in which the link is pushed, the same effect can be obtained even with a multi-joint link mechanism having four or more links.

  The above is the description of the operation of the first embodiment. As described above, the cartridge PC can be held at the predetermined mounting position A of the cartridge mounting portion 20B of the apparatus main body 20A without providing a complicated mechanism outside the cartridge PC. That is, the cartridge half-insertion preventing mechanism can be provided to the user at a low cost with a small size.

<Second Embodiment>
The printer 20 in this embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment except for the configuration of the cartridge push-in mechanism 40 in comparison with that in the first embodiment. Therefore, the description of the part which overlaps with the thing of 1st Embodiment is omitted.

  FIG. 10A is an external perspective view of the laser beam printer 20 in this embodiment, and shows a state in which an open / close door (top cover) 21 as an open / close member is closed. FIG. 10B shows a state where the opening / closing door 21 is opened and the cartridge PC is being inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 20B of the apparatus main body 20A of the printer 20, or the cartridge PC is taken out from the mounting portion 20B. The intermediate state is shown.

  11A and 11B are schematic cross-sectional left side views of the printer driving side where the cartridge pushing mechanism 40 is disposed. FIG. 11A is a view when the open / close door 21 is closed, and FIG. 11B is a view when the open / close door 21 is closed. It is a figure at the time of the open state.

  In this embodiment, the cartridge push-in mechanism 40 includes an interlocking mechanism including a gear that operates in conjunction with the movement of the opening / closing door 21. And the operation panel 21 as a rocking | swiveling member is the structure rock | fluctuated by the interlocking mechanism.

  Similarly to the printer 20 of the first embodiment, the open / close door 21 is connected to the frame of the apparatus main body 20A so as to be openable and closable about a back hinge shaft 21a. A first timing gear 46 is disposed with respect to the hinge shaft 21a. The gear 46 is integrated with the opening / closing door 21 via the hinge shaft 21a, and rotates forward and backward together with the opening / closing rotation of the opening / closing door 21. A second timing gear 48 is disposed on the front side of the gear 46 so as to be rotatable around the shaft portion 47 in the frame of the apparatus main body 20A. A timing belt 49 is suspended between the first and second gears 46 and 48.

  The second gear 48 is provided with a first relay gear 51 coaxially and integrally therewith. On the other hand, the upper side portion of the control panel 23 is disposed on the frame of the apparatus main body 20A so as to be rotatable around the shaft portion 52. The shaft portion 52 is provided with a second relay gear 53 coaxially and integrally (stage gear). The shaft portion 52 and the panel 23 or the second relay gear 53 and the panel 23 are integrated. In the present embodiment, the cartridge pushing mechanism 40 includes the opening / closing door 21, the shaft portion 21 a, the gear 46, the belt 49, the shaft portion 47, the gear 48, the gear 51, the gear 53, the shaft portion 52, and the panel 23. ing.

  As the opening / closing door 21 is opened / closed and rotated, the panel 23 is rotated about the shaft 51 as a swing member via the mechanism 40 in conjunction with the opening / closing rotation. That is, the panel 23 operates as a swinging member whose angle changes in conjunction with the movement of the open / close door 21.

  In the present embodiment, when the open / close door 21 is moved to the closed position H1, the panel 23 is properly arranged with respect to the apparatus main body 20A as shown in FIGS. 10 (a) and 11 (a). It is held at the installation position B. In other words, the panel 23 is positioned and held substantially flush with the front surface of the open / close door 21 at the closed position H1 in the upper part of the drive side on the front side of the apparatus main body.

  Then, when the open / close door 21 is moved from the closed position H1 to the open position H2, the panel 23 is turned upward about the shaft portion 51 and rotated. As a result, the panel 23 is moved from the normal arrangement position B in FIGS. 10A and 11A to the retracted position C in FIGS. 10B and 11B above. Inverted and moved. The retracted position C is a position that does not interfere with the insertion / removal movement locus of the cartridge PC with respect to the apparatus main body 20A.

  Also in the case of this embodiment, the panel 23 moves from the retracted position C to the regular arrangement position B in conjunction with the movement of the opening / closing cover 21 from opening to closing as in the first embodiment. At this time, the pushing portion 23b on the panel 23 side is moved along the locus of the two-dot chain line in FIG. 11 (b), and the driving side covered portion on the front side of the cartridge PC which is in a half-inserted state with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 20B. Pressing against the pressing portion 45 causes a pressing force to act on the cartridge PC. In this case, the pressing direction of the pressing force acting on the cartridge pressed portion 45 by the pressing portion 23b is the direction of the arrow D in the drawing, and substantially coincides with the insertion direction G1 of the cartridge PC.

  Therefore, the cartridge PC in the half-inserted state is easily pushed in with the above pressing force. That is, as in the first embodiment, when the cartridge PC in the half-inserted state is pushed in, the first boss 33La on the non-driving side passes through the portion of the spring 27 while bending the spring 27 (FIG. 9). (A)). When the diameter portion of the first boss 33La passes the bent portion of the spring 27, a force in the cartridge retracting direction is applied to the first boss 33La by the bending reaction force of the spring 27. The first boss 33La is pressed against the groove terminal portion 26La as the positioning portion by the force of the spring 27 in the cartridge pull-in direction (FIG. 9B).

  Further, the first boss 33La on the driving side is positioned at the terminal end portion 26Ra of the guide groove 26R on the driving side, and the driven coupling 34 corresponds to the driving coupling entrance / exit hole 28. Thus, the cartridge PC in the half-inserted state as shown in FIG. 8 is moved to the predetermined mounting position A of the cartridge mounting portion 20B as shown in FIG.

  The above is the cartridge push-in configuration using the gear of the present embodiment. Even if comprised as mentioned above, size reduction of the pushing member of a cartridge can be achieved, and the effect similar to 1st Embodiment can be acquired.

  The cartridge pushing mechanism 40 having a gear and belt configuration in the present embodiment may be any means as long as it can transmit a driving force from the opening / closing door 21 to the cartridge pushing portion 23b. For example, other means such as a sensor and a motor may be used.

<Other matters>
1) The functions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in the first and second embodiments are intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those unless otherwise specified. Is not.

  2) In the present invention, the image forming apparatus is not limited to the electrophotographic image forming apparatus of the embodiment. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium using various other known image forming principles and methods such as an electrostatic recording process and a magnetic recording process.

  3) The image forming apparatus is not limited to one cartridge that can be attached and detached. Also included is an image forming apparatus that forms a color image or the like by detachably mounting a plurality of cartridges having different colors or the like on respective predetermined mounting portions.

  4) The cartridge PC is not limited to the so-called integrated process cartridge of the embodiment. A so-called separation type process cartridge provided with an image forming process means acting on an image carrier on which an image is formed, and a developing means for developing a latent image formed on the image carrier on which an image is formed with a developer. A developing cartridge is included. In addition, various units that contribute to an image forming process of forming an image on a recording medium by being detachably attached to the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus are included.

  20 .. Image forming apparatus, 20 A... Main body, 20 B .. Cartridge mounting portion, A... Mounting position, PC .. Cartridge, S .. Recording medium, 24... Opening portion, 26 L, 26 R. , 33La, 33Ra, 33Lb, 33Rb, guide boss, 26La, positioning part, 21, opening / closing member, H1, closing position, H2, opening position, 23, swinging member (control panel)

Claims (16)

An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium in a state where a cartridge contributing to an image forming process for forming an image is detachably mounted at a predetermined mounting position of a cartridge mounting portion of the apparatus main body,
An opening provided in the apparatus main body so that the cartridge passes in order to detachably mount the cartridge with respect to the mounting position;
Guiding means for guiding the cartridge from the opening to the mounting position; and guiding the cartridge from the mounting position to the opening;
A positioning portion provided in the guide means for positioning the cartridge at the mounting position;
An opening / closing member provided in the apparatus main body and movable between a closed position for closing the opening and an open position for opening the opening;
A swing member whose angle changes in conjunction with the movement of the opening and closing member;
The cartridge is guided by the guide means from the opening that is opened by moving the opening / closing member to the open position, and is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion to move the opening / closing member to the closed position. In addition, when the cartridge is in a half-insertion state where the cartridge has not reached the mounting position, the swinging member presses against the cartridge as a pressing member for pressing the cartridge into the mounting position. apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a pressing direction in which the swinging member is pressed against the cartridge as a pressing member is along an insertion direction of the cartridge with respect to the cartridge mounting portion.   The cartridge is attached to and detached from the cartridge mounting portion in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, one end side in the longitudinal direction is a driving side, the other end side is a non-driving side, and the positioning is placed on the non-driving side of the apparatus main body. A cartridge pull-in spring that presses the positioned portion of the cartridge against the positioning portion and the positioning portion, and a drive coupling with a positioning function is relatively provided on the driving side of the cartridge and the apparatus main body, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the swing member is disposed on a driving side of the apparatus main body.   The link mechanism which operates in conjunction with the movement of the opening / closing member, and the link member constituting the link mechanism is the swing member. The image forming apparatus described.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the link member as the swing member is an operation panel disposed in the apparatus main body, or the operation panel is attached to the link member.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the link mechanism is a four-bar link mechanism.   4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an interlocking mechanism including a gear that operates in conjunction with movement of the opening / closing member, wherein the swinging member is swung by the interlocking mechanism. 5. Image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the swing member is an operation panel disposed in the apparatus main body. An opening provided in the apparatus main body through which the cartridge passes in order to detachably mount a cartridge contributing to an image forming process for forming an image to a predetermined mounting position of a cartridge mounting portion of the apparatus main body. A guide means for guiding the cartridge from the opening to the mounting position, and guiding the cartridge from the mounting position to the opening; and the guide means for positioning the cartridge at the mounting position. And an opening / closing member provided in the apparatus main body and movable between a closing position for closing the opening and an opening position for opening the opening, and the cartridge is in the mounting position. The cartridge is disposed in an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium in a detachably mounted state, and the cartridge is mounted on the recording medium. Said cartridge comprising a cartridge pushing mechanism for pushing into the mounting position when it is insufficiently inserted without reaching the position,
A swing member whose angle changes in conjunction with the movement of the opening / closing member, and the cartridge is guided by the guide means from the opening portion opened by moving the opening / closing member to the open position, and inserted into the cartridge mounting portion. When the opening / closing member is moved to the closed position, the swinging member pushes the cartridge into the mounting position when the cartridge is in a half-insertion state that has not reached the mounting position. A cartridge push-in mechanism that presses against the cartridge.   The cartridge pushing mechanism according to claim 9, wherein a pressing direction in which the swinging member presses against the cartridge as a pressing member is along an insertion direction of the cartridge with respect to the cartridge mounting portion.   The cartridge is attached to and detached from the cartridge mounting portion in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, one end side in the longitudinal direction is a driving side, the other end side is a non-driving side, and the positioning is placed on the non-driving side of the apparatus main body. A cartridge pull-in spring that presses the positioned portion of the cartridge against the positioning portion and the positioning portion, and a drive coupling with a positioning function is relatively provided on the driving side of the cartridge and the apparatus main body, The cartridge pushing mechanism according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the swinging member is disposed on a drive side of the apparatus main body.   12. The link mechanism according to claim 9, further comprising: a link mechanism that operates in conjunction with the movement of the opening / closing member, wherein the link member constituting the link mechanism is the swing member. The cartridge push-in mechanism described.   13. The cartridge pushing mechanism according to claim 12, wherein the link member as the swinging member is an operation panel disposed in the apparatus main body, or the operation panel is attached to the link member.   The cartridge pushing mechanism according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the link mechanism is a four-bar linkage mechanism.   12. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising an interlocking mechanism including a gear that operates in conjunction with movement of the opening / closing member, wherein the swinging member is swung by the interlocking mechanism. Cartridge push-in mechanism.   16. The cartridge pushing mechanism according to claim 15, wherein the swing member is an operation panel disposed in the apparatus main body.