JP2017181882A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that can reliably electrically connect a body electrode to a cartridge electrode.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 1 comprises a developing cartridge including a memory electric contact 42 and a connector including a body electric contact 48. The developing cartridge can be moved with respect to the image forming apparatus 1 while attached to the image forming apparatus 1. The connector can be moved between a connection position at which the body electric contact 48 is electrically connected to the memory electric contact 42 and a connection release position at which the electrical connection between the body electric contact 48 and the memory electric contact 42 is released. The image forming apparatus 1 further includes a pressing member. The pressing member presses the connector in a connection direction from the connection release position toward the connection position when the connector is moved from the connection release position to the connection position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus including a cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus is known. In such an image forming apparatus, it is known that the image forming apparatus reads information on the cartridge by communication between the image forming apparatus and the cartridge.

  For example, it is known that a toner container that can be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus communicates with the image forming apparatus. The toner container includes a chip that stores information on the toner container. The image forming apparatus has a main body side connector connected to the chip. Then, when the toner container is attached to the image forming apparatus, the chip is connected to the main body side connector (see Patent Document 1 below).

JP 2014-228608 A

  In an image forming apparatus such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1, a main body side connector may be connected to a chip of a cartridge mounted on the image forming apparatus.

  In this case, if the main body side connector moves when connecting the main body side connector and the chip, it may be difficult to reliably connect the main body side connector and the chip.

  Accordingly, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of reliably connecting a main body electrode and a cartridge electrode.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a main body casing having an opening, a cover, a photosensitive drum, a developing cartridge, a separating member, a connector, and a pressing member. The cover is movable between an open position that opens the opening and a closed position that closes the opening. The developing cartridge includes a developing roller and a storage medium having a memory electrical contact, and is detachable from the main body casing through the opening.

  The separation member includes a contact position where the developing roller contacts the photosensitive drum and a separation position where the developing roller separates from the photosensitive drum when the developing cartridge is mounted on the main body casing and the cover is in the closed position. The developer cartridge is configured to move between the two. The connector is supported by the cover. The connector includes a main body electrical contact that is electrically connected to the memory electrical contact when the developing cartridge is attached to the main body casing and the cover is in the closed position.

  The pressing member is supported by the cover. The pressing member includes a pressing position where the cover presses the connector in a direction from the open position toward the closed position when the cover moves between the open position and the closed position, the cover is positioned at the closed position, and the developing cartridge is When moving between the contact position and the separation position by the separation member, it is possible to move between a pressure release position for releasing the pressure on the connector so that the connector can move relative to the cover.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the connector can be moved from the connection release position to the connection position while being pressed in the connection direction by the pressing member.

  Therefore, the movement in the connecting direction of the connector can be suppressed by the pressing member.

  As a result, when the main body electrode and the cartridge electrode are electrically connected, the movement of the connector can be suppressed and the main body electrode and the cartridge electrode can be reliably electrically connected.

  The pressing member can move to the pressing release position at a predetermined timing, such as during an image forming operation or between image forming operations, and can release the pressure on the connector.

  As a result, the connector can move together with the developing cartridge.

  As a result, it is possible to suppress wear of the main body electrode of the connector and the cartridge electrode of the developing cartridge.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention can reliably electrically connect the main body electrode and the cartridge electrode.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the developing cartridge shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cover shown in FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the connector shown in FIG. FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the connector shown in FIG. 4A viewed from another direction. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the connector, the pressing member, and the first cam shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a separation mechanism having a development separation cam. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the movement of the connector and is a diagram illustrating a state in which the connection between the connector and the IC chip is released. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the movement of the connector, and is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the connector and the IC chip are connected. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the contact / separation operation of the developing cartridge, and shows a state in which the pressing member is located at the pressing release position and the developing roller and the photosensitive drum are in contact with each other. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the contact / separation operation of the developing cartridge, and shows a state where the pressing member is located at the pressing release position and the developing roller and the photosensitive drum are separated from each other.

1. Overview of Image Forming Apparatus As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a paper feed unit 200 that supplies paper to the image forming unit 100, and an image formation that forms an image on the paper supplied from the paper feed unit 200. Unit 100, a paper discharge unit 300 that discharges a sheet on which an image is formed by image forming unit 100, a main body casing 7 that has opening 7A and accommodates image forming unit 100, and a cover 8 that opens and closes opening 7A, Is provided.

  The cover 8 is movable between an open position that opens the opening 7A and a closed position that closes the opening 7A. The cover 8 includes one end portion 8A that is rotatably supported by the main body casing 7, and the other end portion 8B. A direction from the one end 8A to the other end 8B when the cover 8 is located at the closed position is defined as a predetermined direction. The opening 7A is formed above the main casing 7.

  The image forming unit 100 includes a plurality of developing cartridges 2K, 2Y, 2M, and 2C and a plurality of photosensitive drums 6K, 6Y, 6M, and 6C.

  The plurality of developing cartridges 2K, 2Y, 2M, and 2C have the same structure except that the colors of the developers stored therein are different. Therefore, in the following description, the structure of the developing cartridge 2K will be described. The developing cartridge 2 </ b> K includes a housing 4 and a developing roller 5. The housing 4 can accommodate a developer. The housing 4 has a hollow rectangular tube shape. The developing roller 5 is rotatable about an axis extending in the axial direction. The axial direction is orthogonal to the predetermined direction. The developing roller 5 is located at one end of the housing 4. The developing roller 5 has a cylindrical shape. A part of the peripheral surface of the developing roller 5 is exposed to the outside of the housing 4.

  The plurality of photosensitive drums 6K, 6Y, 6M, and 6C have the same structure except that the corresponding developing cartridges 2K, 2Y, 2M, and 2C are different. Therefore, in the following description, the structure of the developing cartridge 2K will be described. The photosensitive drum 6K is rotatable about an axis extending in the axial direction. The photosensitive drum 6K is provided in the drum cartridge 3K. A developing cartridge 2K can be attached to the drum cartridge 3K. When the developing cartridge 2K is mounted on the drum cartridge 3K, the developing roller 5 of the developing cartridge 2K comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 6K.

  The developing cartridge 2K and the drum cartridge 3K can be attached to and detached from the main casing through the opening 7A when the cover 8 is in the open position.

2. Details of Developing Cartridge As shown in FIG. 2, the developing cartridge 2 </ b> K further includes a coupling 12, a gear cover 13, and a storage medium 41.

2.1 Coupling The coupling 12 receives a driving force from a driving source provided in the main casing 7 when the developing cartridge 2K is mounted on the main casing 7. The driving force received by the coupling 12 is transmitted to the developing roller 5 via a gear train (not shown). As a result, the developing roller 5 rotates.

2.2 Gear cover 13
The gear cover 13 is attached to the side surface of the housing 4 in the axial direction. The gear cover 13 covers a side surface of the coupling 12 and a gear train that transmits a driving force from the coupling 12 to the developing roller 5. The axial end of the coupling 12 is exposed from the gear cover 13. The gear cover 13 has one end and the other end in the moving direction of the developing cartridge 2K from the contact position described later to the separation position. The other end is located farther from the developing roller 5 than the one end in the moving direction. The other end portion has an end face 13A in the movement direction.

3.3 Storage medium 41
The storage medium 41 is an IC chip. The storage medium 41 is located on the outer surface of the other end portion of the gear cover 13. The storage medium 41 is located closer to the developing roller 5 than the end face 13A of the gear cover 13 in the moving direction. The storage medium 41 is located on the opposite side of the developing roller 5 with respect to the coupling 12 in the moving direction. The storage medium 41 extends in the moving direction. The storage medium 41 has memory electrical contacts 42 extending on the surface thereof in the moving direction. The storage medium 41 stores information regarding the developing cartridge 2K. The information about the developing cartridge 2K includes, for example, information about the color of the developer contained in the developing cartridge 2K, information about whether the developing cartridge 2K is a new product because it is new, and information about the number of sheets that can be printed by the developing cartridge 2K. Etc. More specifically, when the developing cartridge 2K is new, the storage medium 41 stores information that the developing cartridge 2K contains black developer, information that the developing cartridge 2K is new, and the developing cartridge. Information that the number of sheets that can be printed by 2K is 6000 is stored.

3. Details of Image Forming Apparatus The image forming apparatus 1 further includes a separation member 31, connectors 43K, 43Y, 43M, and 43C, holders 44K, 44Y, 44M, and 44C, pressing members 61K, 61Y, 61M, and 61C, 2 urging members 62K, 62Y, 62M, 62C, a first cam 62, a first urging member 69, and a drive train 80 are provided.
3.1 Separating Member As shown in FIG. 6, the separating member 31 is configured such that when the developing cartridge 2K is mounted on the main casing 7 and the cover 8 is in the closed position, the developing roller 5 is in the photosensitive drum 6K. The developing cartridge 2K is configured to move between a contact position (see FIG. 9) that contacts the developing roller 5 and a separation position (see FIG. 10) in which the developing roller 5 is separated from the photosensitive drum 6K. Hereinafter, the direction in which the developing cartridge 2K is moved by the separation member 31 is defined as the moving direction. The moving direction intersects the axial direction and the predetermined direction. Specifically, the moving direction is orthogonal to the axial direction and intersects the predetermined direction. The moving direction includes a direction in which the developing roller 5 is separated from the photosensitive drum 6K.

  The spacing member 31 is supported on the side wall of the main body casing 7. The separation member 31 is a slide cam extending in a predetermined direction. The spacing member 31 includes a plurality of gear teeth 30 at one end in a predetermined direction. The plurality of gear teeth 30 are positioned side by side in a predetermined direction.

3.2. Connectors The connectors 43K, 43Y, 43M, and 43C have the same structure except that the corresponding developing cartridges 2K, 2Y, 2M, and 2C are different. Therefore, in the following description, the structure of the connector 43K will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 3, 4A, and 4B, the connector 43K is a connector for electrically connecting the image forming apparatus 1 and the developing cartridge 2K. The connector 43K is supported by the cover 8. The connector 43K includes a first portion 45, a second portion 46, a third portion 47, a main body electrical contact 48, and a plurality of bosses 49.

  The first portion 45 and the second portion 46 are spaced from each other in a predetermined direction. The first portion 45 and the second portion 46 extend in the movement direction. The third portion 47 connects the first portion 45 and the second portion 46. The third portion 47 extends in a predetermined direction. The third portion 47 has a surface 47A extending in a predetermined direction. The surface 47A contacts the developing cartridge 2K in the moving direction when the developing cartridge 2K moves from the contact position to the separated position. The third portion 47 is continuous with the first portion 45 and the second portion 46. The first portion 45 has a surface 45A facing the second portion 46 in a predetermined direction.

  The main body electrical contact 48 is electrically connected to the memory electrical contact 42 (FIG. 2) when the developing cartridge 2K is mounted on the main body casing 7 and the cover 8 is located at the closed position. The main body electrical contact 48 is supported by the first portion 45. The main body electrical contact 48 protrudes from the surface 45A of the first portion 45 toward the second portion 46 in a predetermined direction.

  The plurality of bosses 49 protrude from the outer surface of the connector 43K in the axial direction. In the axial direction, the plurality of bosses 49 are provided on the outer surface on one side of the connector 43K and on the outer surface on the other side of the connector 43K.

3.3 Holder The holders 44K, 44Y, 44M, and 44C have the same structure except that the connectors 43K, 43Y, 43M, and 43C to be supported are different. Therefore, in the following description, the structure of the holder 44K will be described.

  The holder 44K supports the connector 43K. The holder 44K is supported by the cover 8. Specifically, the cover 8 has an opening 50. The holder 44K is inserted into the opening 50. Thereby, the connector 43K is supported by the cover 8 via the holder 44K.

  The holder 44 </ b> K includes a cylindrical portion 51, a protruding portion 53, and a plurality of long holes 52.

  The cylinder part 51 extends in the moving direction. The cylinder part 51 has a rectangular tube shape. Specifically, the cylinder portion 51 has an opening 54. The opening 54 penetrates the cylinder part 51 in the moving direction. In the opening 54, the third portion 47 of the connector 43K is located. The cylinder portion 51 is inserted through one of the plurality of openings 50. The cylinder part 51 has a space | interval with the internal peripheral surface of the opening 50 in an axial direction and a moving direction. Accordingly, the holder 44K is movable in the axial direction and the moving direction with respect to the cover 8.

  The protruding portion 53 protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 51 in the axial direction and the moving direction. The protrusion 53 is in contact with the edge of the opening 50. Thereby, the holder 44K is supported by the cover 8.

  The plurality of long holes 52 are located on the peripheral wall of the holder 44K in the axial direction. The plurality of long holes 52 penetrates the peripheral wall of the holder 44K in the axial direction. The plurality of elongated holes 52 are provided in the axial direction, one on the one peripheral wall and two on the other peripheral wall. The plurality of long holes 52 extend in the movement direction. That is, the plurality of long holes 52 extend in the direction in which the connector 43 moves. One of a plurality of bosses 49 is fitted in each of the plurality of long holes 52. Thereby, the connector 43K can move in the moving direction with respect to the holder 44K.

3.4 Pressing members As shown in FIG. 6, the pressing members 61K, 61Y, 61M, and 61C have the same structure except that the connectors 43K, 43Y, 43M, and 43C to be pressed are different. Therefore, in the following description, the structure of the pressing member 61K will be described.

  The pressing member 61K is a member for pressing the connector 43K in a direction in which the cover 8 moves from the open position to the closed position. The pressing member 61K is supported by the cover 8. The pressing member 61K is located between the connector 43K and the first cam 62 in the movement direction. The pressing member 61K is movable between a pressing position (see FIG. 8) and a pressing release position (see FIG. 9). The pressing position is a position where the pressing member 61K presses the connector 43K in the direction in which the cover 8 moves from the open position to the closed position when the cover 8 moves between the open position and the closed position. The pressing release position is such that the connector 43K is movable with respect to the cover 8 when the cover 8 is in the closed position and the developing cartridge 2K is moved between the contact position and the separation position by the separation member 31. In addition, it is a position for releasing the pressing of the pressing member 61K against the connector 43K.

  The pressing member 61K includes a rotating shaft 63, a pressing portion 64, and a contact portion 65.

  The rotating shaft 63 extends in the axial direction. The rotating shaft 63 is rotatably supported by the cylindrical portion 51 (see FIG. 4A) of the holder 44K. That is, the holder 44 supports the pressing member 61K. Thereby, the pressing member 61K is supported by the cover 8 via the holder 44K. Further, the pressing member 61K can rotate between the pressing position and the pressing release position with respect to the rotation shaft 63.

  The pressing portion 64 extends from the rotation shaft 63 in the radial direction of the rotation shaft 63. The pressing part 64 is located in the cylinder part 51 of the holder 44K. The pressing portion 64 faces the third portion 47.

  The contact portion 65 extends from the rotation shaft 63 toward the opposite side of the pressing portion 64 in the radial direction of the rotation shaft 63.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the pressing member 61K is positioned at the pressing position, the pressing portion 64 abuts on the third portion 47 of the connector 43K, and the cover 8 moves from the open position to the closed position. Press in the direction to do. Thereby, when the pressing member 61K is positioned at the pressing position, the pressing member 61K presses the connector 43K in the direction in which the cover 8 moves from the open position to the closed position. The pressing member 61K only has to press the connector 43K in a direction including at least a component in the direction in which the cover 8 moves from the open position to the closed position. For example, the pressing member 61K may press the connector 43K in a direction inclined with respect to the direction in which the cover 8 moves from the open position to the closed position.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the pressing member 61K is positioned at the pressing release position, the pressing portion 64 is separated from the third portion 47 of the connector 43K and releases the pressing on the connector 43K.

  The pressing member 61K moves from the pressing release position to the pressing position when the cover 8 moves from the closed position to the open position. Further, the pressing member 61K moves from the pressing position to the pressing release position when the cover 8 is located at the closed position.

3.5 Second Energizing Member As shown in FIG. 5, the second urging members 62K, 62Y, 62M, and 62C have the same structure. Therefore, in the following description, the structure of the second urging member 62K will be described.

  The second urging member 66K is a member for urging the pressing member 61K in the direction from the pressing release position toward the pressing position. The second urging member 66K is supported by the holder 44K. The second urging member 66K is a coil spring. The second urging member 66K is located around the rotation shaft 63 of the pressing member 61K. The second urging member 66K has one end in contact with the holder 44K and the other end in contact with the pressing member 61K.

3.6 First cam 62
As shown in FIG. 5, the first cam 62 is a member for moving the pressing members 61K, 61Y, 61M, and 61C from the pressing position to the pressing release position. The first cam 62 is located on the opposite side of the connectors 43K, 43Y, 43M, and 43C with respect to the pressing members 61K, 61Y, 61M, and 61C in the moving direction. The first cam 62 is supported by the cover 8. The first cam 62 extends in a predetermined direction. The first cam 62 has a first surface 62A, a second surface 62B, and recesses 67K, 67Y, 67M, and 67C in the movement direction. The first surface 62A faces the pressing members 61K, 61Y, 61M, and 61C in the moving direction. The second surface 62B is located on the opposite side of the pressing members 61K, 61Y, 61M, 61C with respect to the first surface 62A in the movement direction. The recesses 67K, 67Y, 67M, and 67C are respectively recessed from the first surface 62A toward the second surface 62B in the movement direction.

  In the predetermined direction, the first cam 62 is between a first position (see FIG. 8) where the pressing member 61K is positioned at the pressing position and a second position (see FIG. 9) where the pressing member 61K is positioned at the pressing release position. Is movable. When the first cam 62 is positioned at the first position, the contact portion 65 of the pressing member 61K is positioned at the recess 67K. The pressing member 61K is positioned at the pressing position by the urging force of the second urging member 66K. That is, when the first cam 62 is positioned at the first position, the pressing member 61K is allowed to be positioned at the pressing position. Further, when the first cam 62 is positioned at the second position, the contact portion 65 of the pressing member 61K contacts the first surface 62A of the first cam 62. Accordingly, the pressing member 61K is positioned at the pressing release position against the urging force of the second urging member 66K. That is, the pressing member 61K receives the driving force from the first cam 62 and moves from the pressing position to the pressing release position.

  The first cam 62 further includes a plurality of gear teeth 60 (see FIG. 6) and a protrusion 68.

  The plurality of gear teeth 60 are located at one end of the first cam 62 in a predetermined direction. The plurality of gear teeth 60 are positioned side by side in a predetermined direction.

  The protrusion 68 is located at the other end of the first cam 62 in a predetermined direction. The protruding portion 68 protrudes from the second surface 62B of the first cam 62 to the side opposite to the first surface 62A.

3.7 First Biasing Member The first biasing member 69 is a tension spring as shown in FIG. One end of the first urging member 69 is hooked on the protrusion 68, and the other end is fixed to the cover 8. That is, the first urging member 69 is supported by the cover 8. Accordingly, the first biasing member 69 biases the first cam 62 in the direction from the second position toward the first position.

3.8 Drive train 80
As shown in FIG. 6, the drive train 80 is for transmitting a drive force to the separation member 31.

  The drive train 80 includes a first gear 81 that meshes with the gear teeth 30 of the separation member 31, a second gear 82 that meshes with the gear teeth 60 of the first cam, and a gear train 83 that meshes with the first gear 81. A driving force is input to the first gear 81 from a driving source 84 in the image forming apparatus 1. The gear train 83 includes a plurality of idle gears 85. The second gear 82 is supported by the cover 8. The second gear 82 meshes with the gear train 83 when the cover 8 is in the closed position. Thereby, the first cam 62 can receive a driving force from the driving train 80 when the cover 8 is located at the closed position. The second gear 82 moves together with the cover 8 and is separated from the gear train 83 when the cover 8 is located from the closed position to the open position. Thereby, the first cam 62 can receive a driving force from the driving train 80 when the cover 8 is located at the closed position. Thereby, when the cover 8 is located at the open position, the drive transmission from the drive train 80 to the first cam 62 is released.

  The separation member 31 receives a driving force from the first gear 81 of the drive train 80 and can move in this order among the release position, the color mode position, the monochrome mode position, and the all separation mode position. The release position is a position when the developing cartridges 2K, 2Y, 2M, and 2C are attached to and detached from the main body casing 7. The color mode position is a position when the image forming apparatus 1 prints a color image. The monochrome mode position is a position when the image forming apparatus 1 prints a monochrome image. The all separation mode position is a position where all the developing rollers 5 are separated from the photosensitive drum.

4). Hereinafter, the connection or disconnection between the connector 43K and the storage medium 41 will be described with reference to FIG. 7 and FIG.

4.1 Connection between Connector and Recording Medium As shown in FIG. 6, when the cover 8 is in the open position, drive transmission from the drive train 80 to the first cam 62 is released. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the first cam 62 is located at the first position by the urging force of the first urging member 69. Further, the pressing member 61K is positioned at the pressing position by the urging force of the second urging member 66K. Accordingly, the connector 43K is pressed by the pressing member 61K in the direction in which the cover 8 moves from the open position to the closed position.

  The connector 43K moves together with the cover 8 as the cover 8 is moved from the open position to the closed position while being pressed by the pressing member 61K.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the cover 8 is located at the closed position, the surface 47A of the third portion 47 of the connector 43K contacts the end surface 13A of the gear cover 13 in the movement direction. The memory electrical contact 42 is located between the first portion 45 and the second portion 46 in a predetermined direction. The main body electrical contact 48 faces the memory electrical contact 42 in a predetermined direction. The body electrical contact 48 contacts the memory electrical contact 42. Thereby, the main body electrical contact 48 is electrically connected to the memory electrical contact 42.

  Further, when the cover 8 is located at the closed position, the first cam 62 and the drive train 80 (see FIG. 6) can transmit the drive.

4.2 Press Release to Connector After the cover 8 is located at the closed position, as shown in FIG. 9, the first cam 62 is moved from the first position to the second position by the driving force from the driving train 80 (see FIG. 6). Move to position. Then, the pressing member 61K moves from the pressing position to the pressing release position, and releases the pressing on the connector 43K. Accordingly, the connector 43K can move in the moving direction.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10, the developing cartridge 2 </ b> K is positioned at the separation position by the separation member 31 (see FIG. 6). That is, the developing roller 5 is separated from the photosensitive drum 6K.

  At this time, the connector 43K is pressed by the end surface 13A of the gear cover 13 in a direction in which the developing roller 5 is separated from the photosensitive drum 6K.

  Then, the connector 43K moves together with the developing cartridge 2K in a state where the main body electrical contact 48 is electrically connected to the memory electrical contact 42.

4.3 Release of Connection between Connector and Recording Medium As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, when the cover 8 moves from the closed position to the open position, the connector 43 </ b> K moves together with the cover 8. When the cover 8 is in the open position, the main body electrical contact 48 is separated from the memory electrical contact 42 in the moving direction. Thereby, the electrical connection between the main body electrical contact 48 and the memory electrical contact 42 is released.

  Further, when the cover 8 is moved from the closed position to the open position, the drive transmission between the first cam 62 and the drive train 80 (see FIG. 6) is released.

  Then, the first cam 62 is moved from the second position to the first position by the urging force of the first urging member 69. The pressing member 61K is positioned from the pressing release position to the pressing position by the urging force of the second urging member 66K. Thereby, the connector 43K is pressed by the pressing member 61K in the moving direction from the open position of the cover 8 to the closed position.

7). Operation and Effect As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the image forming apparatus 1 opens the cover 8 in a state where the connector 43K is pressed by the pressing member 61K in the moving direction from the open position of the cover 8 to the closed position. Move from position to closed position.

  Therefore, the movement of the connector 43K in the moving direction from the open position to the closed position of the cover 8 can be suppressed by the pressing member 61K.

  As a result, when the main body electrical contact 48 and the memory electrical contact 42 are electrically connected, the movement of the connector 43K is suppressed and the main body electrical contact 48 and the memory electrical contact 42 are reliably electrically connected. be able to.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the pressing member 61 </ b> K moves to the pressing release position after the cover 8 moves to the closed position, and can release the pressing on the connector 43 </ b> K. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 10, the connector 43K can move together with the developing cartridge 2K. As a result, it is possible to suppress wear of the main body electrical contact 48 of the connector 43K and the memory electrical contact 42 of the developing cartridge 2K.

  Further, the connector 43K contacts the end surface 13A of the gear cover 13 at the surface 47A of the third portion 47 when the cover 8 is located at the closed position.

  Thus, the connector 43K is movable together with the developing cartridge 2K by being pressed by the end surface 13A of the gear cover 13.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the first cam 62 releases the drive transmission with the drive train 80 when the cover 8 moves from the closed position to the open position. The urging force moves from the second position to the first position. Thereby, when the cover 8 is located at the open position, the first cam 62 can be reliably located at the first position, and the pressing member 61K can be reliably located at the pressing position.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2C Developing cartridge 2K Developing cartridge 2M Developing cartridge 2Y Developing cartridge 5 Developing roller 6C Photosensitive drum 6K Photosensitive drum 6M Photosensitive drum 6Y Photosensitive drum 7 Main body casing 7A Opening 8 Cover 31 Separating member 42 Memory electrical contact 43C connector 43K connector 43M Connector 43Y Connector 44C Holder 44K Holder 44M Holder 44Y Holder 47A Surface 48 Main body electrical contact 49 Boss 52 Long hole 61C Press member 61K Press member 61M Press member 61Y Press member 62 First cam 66C Second bias member 66K Second bias member 66M second urging member 66Y second urging member 80 drive train

Claims (12)

A body casing having an opening;
A cover movable between an open position for opening the opening and a closed position for closing the opening;
A photosensitive drum;
A developing roller, a storage medium having a memory electrical contact, and a developing cartridge that is detachable from the main casing through the opening;
When the developing cartridge is mounted on the main body casing and the cover is in the closed position, a contact position where the developing roller contacts the photosensitive drum, and a spacing where the developing roller is separated from the photosensitive drum. A spacing member configured to move the developer cartridge between positions;
A connector supported by the cover, wherein a main body electrical contact electrically connected to the memory electrical contact when the developing cartridge is mounted on the main body casing and the cover is located at the closed position; A connector comprising;
A pressing member supported by the cover,
A pressing position where the cover presses the connector in a direction from the open position toward the closed position when the cover moves between the open position and the closed position;
When the cover is located at the closed position and the developing cartridge is moved between the contact position and the separation position by the separation member, the connector is movable with respect to the cover. A pressure release position for releasing the pressure on the connector;
A pressing member that is movable between,
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressing member moves from the pressing release position to the pressing position when the cover moves from the closed position to the open position.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the pressing member moves from the pressing position to the pressing release position when the cover is positioned at the closed position.   A first cam supported by the cover for moving the pressing member from the pressing position to the pressing release position, wherein the pressing member is located at the pressing position; The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first cam that is movable between a second position that is located at a pressing release position.   A first urging member supported by the cover, comprising a first urging member that urges the first cam in a direction from the second position toward the first position. Item 5. The image forming apparatus according to Item 4.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second urging member that urges the pressing member in a direction from the pressing release position toward the pressing position.   A holder that is supported by the cover and supports the connector, the holder being configured to be movable in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the cover moves from the open position to the closed position. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the holder supports the pressing member.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the image forming apparatus is supported by the holder and supports a second urging member that urges the pressing member in a direction from the pressing release position toward the pressing position.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein one end of the second urging member is in contact with the holder and the other end is in contact with the pressing member. The holder has an elongated hole extending in the moving direction of the connector;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the connector includes a boss that fits into the elongated hole. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connector has a surface that contacts the developing cartridge in a direction in which the developing roller is separated from the photosensitive drum.

Images