JP2021107900A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a form of an image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus comprises: an apparatus main body that has a control board; a drawer unit; and a door that is supported by the apparatus main body movably between a closed position and an open position and is opposite to the drawer unit at the closed position. The door has a door contact that is configured to be electrically connected with the control board, and be brought into contact with a unit contact when the door is located at the closed position to be electrically connected with the unit contact. The drawer unit has an opposing surface that is opposite to the door located at the closed position, and a grip part that is provided in a center part of the opposing surface in an axial direction of the axis of rotation. The unit contact is provided in an area on the outside of an end face of the grip part, the area being below the grip part in the vertical direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet.

Conventionally, an image forming apparatus including a drum unit that holds four developing cartridges and an openable / closable cover that covers the accommodating portion of the drum unit has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). The housing of the drum unit is provided with four electric terminals that can be electrically contacted with the IC chips of each developing cartridge, and these four electric terminals are electrically connected to the relay board via the wiring portion. It is connected.

The relay board is arranged on the rear surface of the fourth frame plate arranged at the front end of the housing of the drum unit, and is electrically connected to the electrical contact surface provided on the front surface of the fourth frame plate. The cover is provided with electrical contacts that come into contact with the electrical contact surface when the cover is located in the closed position.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2019-28346

In recent years, there is room for improvement in an image forming apparatus equipped with an IC chip as described above. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a form of an image forming apparatus.

According to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus, an apparatus main body having a control substrate, a photosensitive drum that carries a toner image and is configured to be rotatable about a rotation axis, and a photosensitive drum that carries the toner and supplies the toner to the photosensitive drum. A drawer unit having a developing roller for storing and a memory medium for storing information, and a unit contact electrically connected to the memory medium of the developing unit, wherein the photosensitive drum can form an image. A drawer unit that can be pulled out from the device body from the first position to the second position where the developing unit is exposed to the outside of the device body, and the drawer unit that the drawer unit passes through when the drawing unit is pulled out from the device body. A door that is movably supported by the device body and faces the drawer unit at the closed position is provided so as to be movable between a closed position that covers the opening of the device body and an open position that opens the opening. The door is electrically connected to the control board and is configured to contact the unit contact and be electrically connected to the unit contact when the door is in the closed position. The drawer unit has a facing surface facing the door located at the closed position, and a handle portion provided at the center of the facing surface in the axial direction of the rotation axis. The unit contact is provided in a region outside the end face of the handle portion in the axial direction and in a region below the handle portion in the vertical direction.

According to the present invention, one form of an image forming apparatus can be provided.

The whole schematic which shows the image forming apparatus which concerns on 1st Example. (A) is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus, and (b) is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus in a state where the cartridge tray is removed. The perspective view which shows the cartridge tray and the development cartridge. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a cartridge tray and a developing cartridge 8. (A) is a perspective view showing the cartridge tray, and (b) is an enlarged perspective view showing the front part of the cartridge tray. The perspective view which shows the tray contact unit and the tray memory contact corresponding to each development cartridge. (A) is a side view showing a state in which the cartridge tray is mounted, (b) is a side view showing a state in which the cartridge tray is pulled out from the mounting position, and (c) is a state in which the cartridge tray is further pulled out. Side view showing. (A) is a perspective view showing the front door and the device main body located in the closed position, (b) is a perspective view showing the device main body in the state where the front door is slightly opened, and (c) is the front door and the device main body located in the open position. The perspective view which shows the apparatus main body. The perspective view which shows the structure of the front door. (A) is a perspective view showing the multi-tray unit in use, and (b) is an enlarged perspective view showing the multi-tray unit. An enlarged perspective view showing a tray contact unit. The perspective view which shows the door contact unit and the tray contact unit. The perspective view which shows the door contact unit and its peripheral structure. The cross-sectional view which shows the multi-tray frame body and the multi-tray frame body rail. The cross-sectional view which shows the comparative example of 1st Example. The perspective view which shows the image forming apparatus in the process of closing a front door and operating. A cross-sectional view showing a state in which the door contact unit is in contact with the tray contact unit. The cross-sectional view which shows the comparative example of the 2nd Example. An enlarged perspective view showing an enlarged broken line portion of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment. The enlarged perspective view which shows the peripheral structure of the door contact member of a door contact unit. An enlarged perspective view showing a tension spring and a wire spring. The perspective view which shows the peripheral structure of the left hinge. (A) is a perspective view showing the arrangement relationship of the wire spring and the tag main body bundled wire, and (b) is a cross-sectional view showing the 23B-23B cross section of FIG. 23 (a). (A) is an enlarged perspective view showing a torsion coil spring according to a third embodiment, and (b) is a perspective view showing a torsion coil spring. The cross-sectional view which shows the image forming apparatus which concerns on 4th Example. (A) is a perspective view showing an apparatus main body and a cartridge tray, (b) is a perspective view showing an intermediate contact portion, and (c) is an enlarged perspective view showing an intermediate contact portion. (A) is a cross-sectional view showing an intermediate contact portion in a state where the front door is closed, and (b) is a cross-sectional view showing an intermediate contact portion in a state where the front door is open. The perspective view which shows the modification of the 4th Example. (A) is a perspective view showing a tag contact connector, and (b) is a cross-sectional view showing a tag contact connector. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the fifth embodiment. (A) is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus in a state where the front door is open, and (b) is a cross-sectional view showing an image forming apparatus in a state where the front door is open. (A) is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus holding a cartridge tray located in the middle position, and (b) is a cross-sectional view showing an image forming apparatus holding a cartridge tray located in the middle position. (A) is a cross-sectional view showing how the front door is closed, (b) is a cross-sectional view showing how the front door is closed, and (c) is a cross-sectional view showing how the front door is closed. (A) is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus according to a fifth embodiment in a state where the front door is open, and (b) is a front view showing an image forming apparatus in a state where the front door is open. (A) is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of 35A-35A of FIG. 34 (b), and (b) is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of 35B-35B of FIG. 34 (b). (A) is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 35 (a), and (b) is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 35 (b). A cross-sectional view showing how the cartridge tray is held in the middle position. (A) is a front view showing an image forming apparatus with the front door slightly opened, (b) is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of 38B-38B of FIG. 38 (a), and (c) is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 38 (a). FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of 38C-38C. An enlarged perspective view showing a tray contact unit and a door contact unit with the front door slightly opened. (A) is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section passing through the tray contact unit with the front door closed, and (b) is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section near the front door assist plate with the front door 40 further closed. (A) is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section passing through the tray contact unit when the front door is in the closed position, and (b) is a cross section in the vicinity of the front door assist plate when the front door is in the closed position. Sectional view.

In the following description, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail by way of example with reference to the drawings and examples. However, the functions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to those, unless otherwise specified. Further, the functions, materials, shapes, etc. of the members once described in the following description are the same as those in the first description unless otherwise specified.

Further, in the following description, regarding the image forming apparatus, the side provided with the front door is referred to as a front side, and the side opposite to the front side is referred to as a back side. Further, when the image forming apparatus is viewed from the front, the left side is referred to as a left side and the right side is referred to as a right side.

Further, the direction extending on the drum axis of the photosensitive drum of the cartridge tray is referred to as "first direction D1". Further, the direction intersecting the first direction D1 (in this embodiment, the direction in which the developing cartridge is inserted into the cartridge tray) is referred to as "second direction D2". In addition, the direction in which the cartridge tray is inserted into the image forming apparatus is referred to as "third direction D3". The first direction D1 and the second direction D2 intersect with each other, preferably orthogonal to each other. The second direction D2 and the third direction D3 intersect with each other, preferably orthogonal to each other. The third direction D3 and the first direction D1 intersect with each other, preferably orthogonal to each other.

<First Example>
〔overall structure〕
First, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is an overall schematic view of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1 is a four-color full-color laser beam printer using an electrophotographic image forming process, and forms a color image on the sheet S.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an apparatus main body 2, a cartridge tray 3, and four developing cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K. The cartridge tray 3 and the developing cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K are detachably attached to the apparatus main body 2. The cartridge tray 3 is a tray capable of holding four developing cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K. The cartridge tray 3 and the four developing cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K constitute a drawer unit 38.

In the following, the cartridge tray 3 in which the four developing cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K are mounted is also simply referred to as the cartridge tray 3, and the cartridge tray 3 in this state constitutes a drawer unit. The cartridge tray 3 (drawer unit) is from the mounting position as the first position where the photosensitive drum can form an image to the drawer position as the second position where the developing cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K are exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body 2. It can be pulled out from the device body 2. The image forming apparatus 1 forms an image on the sheet S (for example, printing paper) by the developing agent (for example, toner) supplied from the developing cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K.

In this embodiment, four developing cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K are mounted on one cartridge tray 3. The four developing cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K contain developing agents of different colors (for example, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black). However, the number of developing cartridges 8 mounted on the cartridge tray 3 may be 1 to 3, or 5 or more.

The developing cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K have the same configuration except for the color of the toner image. Therefore, only the configuration of the developing cartridge 8M will be described, and the description of the other developing cartridges 8Y, 8C, 8K will be omitted. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the cartridge tray 3 and the developing cartridge 8M according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the cartridge tray 3 is provided with a photosensitive drum 4M corresponding to the developing cartridge 8M, which carries a toner image and rotates about a rotation axis extending in the first direction D1. That is, the first direction D1 is the axial direction of the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum 4M. In addition, the cartridge tray 3 includes a charging roller 5 that acts on the photosensitive drum 4M and a cleaning roller 7. The developing cartridge 8M has a developing roller 6 for developing an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 4.

As shown in FIG. 1, a laser scanner unit LB is provided above the cartridge tray 3. The laser scanner unit LB outputs the laser beam Z corresponding to the image information. The laser beam Z passes through the exposure window portion 10 and scans and exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 4M.

An electrostatic suction belt unit 11 is provided below the developing cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K and the cartridge tray 3. The electrostatic suction belt unit 11 has a drive roller 13 and a tension roller 14, and a plastic electrostatic suction belt 12 is hung on the drive roller 13 and the tension roller 14. The photosensitive drums 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K provided on each developing cartridge are in contact with the upper surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 12.

Transfer rollers 16Y, 16M, 16C, 16K are provided inside the electrostatic adsorption belt 12 at positions facing the photosensitive drums 4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K. The toner image carried on the photosensitive drums 4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K is transferred to the sheet S by applying a transfer bias to the transfer rollers 16Y, 16M, 16C, 16K.

A feeding unit 18 is provided below the electrostatic suction belt unit 11. The feeding unit 18 has a feeding tray 19 in which the seat S is loaded and stored, and a feeding roller 20, and feeds the seat S. A fixing unit 21 for fixing an image on the sheet S is arranged behind the electrostatic suction belt unit 11 (on the right side in FIG. 1), and a discharge unit for discharging the sheet S to the outside of the machine is placed on the upper part of the apparatus main body 2. 22 are arranged.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view showing the image forming apparatus 1 in a state where the cartridge tray 3 is removed. As shown in FIG. 2A, the cartridge tray 3 has a guide rail 41 (see FIG. 2B) provided in the apparatus main body 2 after opening the front door 40 of the image forming apparatus 1. It is installed so that it can be moved in three directions D3. Details of opening and closing the front door 40 will be described later. The developing cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, and K can be individually replaced with respect to the cartridge tray 3.

The device main body 2 has an opening 25 through which the drawer unit 38 passes when the drawer unit 38 is pulled out from the device main body 2. The front door 40 as a door is movably supported by the apparatus main body 2 between a closed position that covers the opening 25 and an open position that opens the opening 25.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the cartridge tray 3 and the developing cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 3, one developing cartridge 8M is taken out. The developing cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K are attached and detached in the four slots provided in the cartridge tray 3.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the developing cartridge 8M as a developing unit includes a memory tag unit 80M to which a memory tag 81M as a memory medium is attached. The memory tag 81M is, for example, a contact type IC chip and has an electrical contact portion. The memory tag 81M can be electrically connected to the image forming apparatus 1 by coming into contact with the tray memory contact 720M (see FIG. 6) provided on the cartridge tray 3. The memory tag 81M stores information about the developing cartridge 8M.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the image forming apparatus 1 has a control board 43 and a display unit 42. The control board 43 has a processor such as a CPU and various memories, is composed of, for example, a circuit board, and the processor operates according to a program to execute various processes in the image forming apparatus 1. Further, the control board 43 is connected to the memory tags 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81K as described later, and processes the memory tags 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81K of the development cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K. Thereby, for example, information such as the remaining amount of the developing agent of the developing cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K can be clearly shown to the user by the display unit 42 provided in the image forming apparatus 1.

[Image formation operation]
Next, the image forming operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 4. The operation for forming a full-color image is as follows. The cartridge tray 3 and the developing cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K are completely mounted on the image forming apparatus 1 with the front door 40 closed.

When the front door 40 is closed, a drum drive coupling (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus 1 is connected to the photosensitive drums 4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K, and the drum couplings 54Y, 54M, 54C, 54K ( (See FIG. 3). The drum couplings 54Y, 54M, 54C, and 54K are rotationally driven via drive output motors and gears (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 1. The photosensitive drums 4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K are rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 at a predetermined speed via the drum couplings 54Y, 54M, 54C, 54K. The electrostatic adsorption belt 12 is also rotationally driven at a speed corresponding to the speeds of the photosensitive drums 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K.

At this time, the laser scanner unit LB is also driven and emits light. The surfaces of the photosensitive drums 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K are uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity and potential by the charging roller 5 in synchronization with the light emission of the laser scanner unit LB. The laser scanner unit LB scans and exposes the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K with the laser beam Z according to the image signals of each color. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image signal of the corresponding color is formed on the surface of each photosensitive drum.

This electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing roller 6 which is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow E in FIG. 4 at a predetermined speed. By such an electrophotographic image forming process, a yellow toner image corresponding to the yellow component of the full-color image is formed on the photosensitive drum 4Y. On the other hand, the feeding unit 18 separates and feeds the sheets S one by one at a predetermined control timing. Then, the sheet S is conveyed along the photosensitive drums 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K by the electrostatic adsorption belt 12.

The sheet S reaches the photosensitive drum 4Y at a predetermined control timing, and the toner image on the photosensitive drum 4Y is transferred onto the sheet S. Similarly, toner images corresponding to the magenta, cyan, and black colors of the full-color image are formed on the photosensitive drums 4M, 4C, and 4K. Then, the toner image is superimposed and transferred on the sheet S with magenta color, cyan color, and black color. In this way, a four-color full-color unfixed toner image of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black is formed on the sheet S.

The toner image transferred to the sheet S is fixed by the fixing unit 21. Then, the sheet S that has passed through the fixing unit 21 is discharged to the discharge tray 23 by the discharge unit 22.

[Cartridge tray configuration]
Next, the configuration of the cartridge tray 3 will be described. FIG. 5A is a perspective view showing the cartridge tray 3, and FIG. 5B is an enlarged perspective view showing the front portion of the cartridge tray 3. The cartridge tray 3 has a tray frame 30, a tray penetrating shaft 55, a photosensitive drum 4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K, a charging roller 5Y, 5M, 5C, 5K, and a cleaning frame 27Y, 27M, 27C, 27K. There is. Further, the cartridge tray 3 has tray charging contacts 44Y, 44M, 44C, 44K, tray cleaner contacts 45Y, 45M, 45C, 45K, tray development contacts (not shown), and the like.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the tray frame 30 is a frame composed of four surfaces: a tray right side surface 30r, a tray left side surface 30l, a tray front surface 30f, and a tray back surface 30b. The tray right side surface 30r is a side surface that is located on the outside of the device in the first direction D1 of the cartridge tray 3 and covers the right side. Similarly, the tray left side surface 30l is a side surface that is located outside the device in the first direction D1 of the cartridge tray 3 and covers the left side. Further, the tray front surface 30f and the tray back surface 30b are surfaces connecting the tray right side surface 30r and the tray left side surface 30l, the tray front surface 30f is located on the front side of the cartridge tray 3, and the tray back surface 30b is located on the back surface side.

The tray penetrating shaft 55 is supported by the tray right side surface 30r and the tray left side surface 30l, and both ends project outward from the tray right side surface 30r and the tray left side surface 30l in the first direction D1. Further, a tray positioning groove 56 is formed on the back side of the tray right side surface 30r and the tray left side surface 30l. Here, the tray penetrating shaft 55 is supported by the tray shaft engaging portion 57 of the device main body 2 shown in FIG. 2B, and the tray positioning groove 56 is the tray positioning shaft 24 of the device main body 2 shown in FIG. Supported by. As a result, the cartridge tray 3 is positioned with respect to the apparatus main body 2.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the photosensitive drums 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K are supported by the tray right side surface 30r and the tray left side surface 30l, and are rotatably attached to a rotation axis extending in the first direction D1. .. The charging rollers 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K are rotatable about a rotation axis extending in the first direction D1, and the cleaning frame 27Y can be driven to rotate in contact with the photosensitive drums 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K, respectively. , 27M, 27C, 27K. The cleaning frame bodies 27Y, 27M, 27C, and 27K are supported by the tray right side surface 30r and the tray left side surface 30l.

Further, the tray charging contacts 44Y, 44M, 44C, 44K are provided on the side surface of the tray right side surface 30r, and are electrically connected to the charging rollers 5Y, 5M, 5C, 5K. The tray charging contacts 44Y, 44M, 44C, 44K are exposed on the right side surface of the cartridge tray 3, and when they come into contact with the charging contacts (not shown) of the device body 2, the charging roller 5 electrically contacts the device body 2. Conducts. The surface of the photosensitive drums 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity and potential by the charging roller 5. Here, although the charging roller 5 is used as the charging unit in this embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and another configuration such as a corona charger may be used.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5A, the cleaning frame bodies 27Y, 27M, 27C, 27K are provided with cleaning rollers 7Y, 7M, 7C, 7K that are rotatable about a rotation axis extending in the first direction D1. ing. The tray cleaner contacts 45Y, 45M, 45C, 45K are provided on the side surface of the tray right side surface 30r, and are electrically connected to the cleaning rollers 7Y, 7M, 7C, 7K, respectively. The tray cleaner contacts 45Y, 45M, 45C, 45K are exposed on the right side surface of the cartridge tray 3, and when they come into contact with the cleaner contacts (not shown) of the device main body 2, the cleaning rollers 7Y, 7M, 7C, 7K become devices. It is electrically connected to the main body 2.

As a result, the cleaning rollers 7Y, 7M, 7C, and 7K effectively remove the waste developing agent on the surface of the photosensitive drums 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K that remain without being transferred during image formation. Here, in this embodiment, the cleaning roller 7 is used as the cleaning unit, but the cleaning unit does not necessarily have to be provided, and a rubber blade, a sheet, or the like may have another configuration.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a tray operating portion 30a and a pressed portion 751 that can be pressed by a protruding portion 40a of the front door 40, which will be described later, are provided on the tray front surface 30f. The pressed portion 751 may be configured so as not to be pressed by the protruding portion 40a. The tray front surface 30f as the facing surface faces the front door 40 located at the closed position. The tray operating portion 30a and the pressed portion 751 project toward the front side of the tray front surface 30f.

The tray operating portion 30a as the handle portion is arranged at the central portion in the first direction D1 of the tray front surface 30f, and has a concave shape downward so that the user can put his / her hand in and grip the tray from below. ing. The pressed portion 751 is arranged at the left end portion in the first direction D1 of the tray front surface 30f. A recess 752 is formed between the tray operating portion 30a and the pressed portion 751 in the first direction D1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the tray contact unit 219 and the tray memory contacts 720Y, 720M, 720C, 720K corresponding to each developing cartridge. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 6, a tray contact unit 219 is attached to the front surface 30f of the tray. Tray memory contacts 720Y, 720M, 720C, 720K are attached to the ends of the cleaning frame bodies 27Y, 27M, 27C, 27K on the tray right side 30r side.

The tray memory contacts 720Y, 720M, 720C, and 720K are arranged at positions that can be connected to the electrical contacts of the memory tags 81Y, 81M, 81C, and 81K (see FIG. 3) of the developing cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K, respectively. There is. These tray memory contacts 720Y, 720M, 720C, and 720K are electrically connected to the tray contact unit 219 as a unit contact via a wiring unit 730 and a relay board (not shown).

[Insert / unplugging the cartridge tray]
Next, the operation of pulling out the cartridge tray 3 from the apparatus main body 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 (a), 5 (a), and 7 (a), (b), and (c). 7 (a), (b), and (c) are views showing the behavior of the cartridge tray 3 when the cartridge tray 3 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 2, and the cartridge tray 3 and the apparatus main body 2 as viewed from the right side surface of the image forming apparatus 1. It shows the transition of the state.

As shown in FIG. 5, tray guides 49 projecting outward in the first direction D1 are formed on the tray right side surface 30r and the tray left side surface 30l, respectively, as shown in FIG. Further, on the back side of each tray guide 49 in the image forming apparatus 1, a guide roller 50 rotatably supported with respect to the tray frame 30 is provided.

Here, as shown in FIG. 7A, the lowermost portion 50a of the guide roller 50 is below the tray guide 49. Further, a tray guide inclined surface 49b is formed at an end portion of the tray guide 49 on the front side of the image forming apparatus 1. Here, the tray guide inclined surface 49b is inclined upward as it approaches the end on the front side of the tray guide 49.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, guide rails 41 are provided on both side surfaces of the accommodating portion of the cartridge tray 3 in the apparatus main body 2. Further, as shown in FIG. 7A, the back side of the image forming apparatus 1 of the guide rail 41 is provided with a rail inclined surface 41b that is inclined downward toward the end of the back side. Further, a tray stopper 41c protruding upward from the lower surface of the rail is formed at an end portion of the guide rail 41 on the front side of the image forming apparatus 1.

Here, as shown in FIG. 7A, the position of the cartridge tray 3 mounted on the apparatus main body 2 is set as the first position. When the cartridge tray 3 is located at the first position, the guide roller 50 and the tray guide inclined surface 49b are arranged upstream of the rail inclined surface 41b and the tray stopper 41c in the drawing direction of the cartridge tray 3, respectively. When replacing the developing cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K, the user opens the front door 40 of the image forming apparatus 1 and pulls out the cartridge tray 3 from the first position to the front side with respect to the apparatus main body 2.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 7B, the tray guide inclined surface 49b and the tray stopper 41c come into contact with each other, and the guide roller 50 and the rail inclined surface 41b come into contact with each other. Then, the cartridge tray 3 moves upward in the second direction D2 with respect to the apparatus main body 2 as it is pulled out to the front side of the image forming apparatus 1.

As a result, the photosensitive drums 4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K and the electrostatic adsorption belt 12 are separated from each other, and the cartridge tray 3 can be pulled out without damaging the surface of the photosensitive drums 4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K. Here, as shown in FIG. 7C, when the cartridge tray 3 is pulled out from the first position to the front side with respect to the apparatus main body 2, and the cartridge tray 3 is completely raised upward in the second direction D2. The position of the cartridge tray 3 is set to the second position.

When the cartridge tray 3 is on the front side of the second position and the second position, the tray guide lower surface 49a and the tray stopper 41c are in contact with each other, and the guide roller 50 and the guide rail 41 are in contact with each other. As a result, the cartridge tray 3 is pulled out to the front side of the apparatus main body 2 in the third direction D3 while maintaining the position in the second direction D2. After pulling out, the user can easily replace the developing cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K because the upper side of the developing cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K in the taking-out direction is opened.

When the cartridge tray 3 is pulled out and then inserted into the apparatus main body 2, the cartridge tray 3 passes through the second position in the reverse order of the pulling out and moves to the first position. Also in this case, since the photosensitive drum 4 and the electrostatic adsorption belt 12 are separated from each other until the cartridge tray 3 is settled in the first position, the insertion of the cartridge tray 3 can be completed without damaging the surface of the photosensitive drum 4.

[Opening and closing the front door]
Next, the opening / closing operation of the front door 40 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8A to 9. 8 (a) to 8 (c) are perspective views showing an image forming apparatus 1 when the front door 40 is opened and closed stepwise. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the front door 40.

As shown in FIG. 9, a left hinge 201 and a right hinge 202 are attached to the front door 40. The left hinge 201 and the right hinge 202 are arranged at different positions in the first direction D1. The left hinge 201 is provided with a left hinge rotation shaft 201a, and the right hinge 202 is provided with a right hinge rotation shaft 202a. The device main body 2 is provided with a left hinge support portion 203 and a right hinge support portion 204, and are engaged with the left hinge rotation shaft 201a and the right hinge rotation shaft 202a, respectively. The front door 40 is rotatably held with respect to the device main body 2 around the left hinge rotation shaft 201a and the right hinge rotation shaft 202a.

Further, the front door 40 is provided with an open / close button 205, a left lock member 206, and a right lock member 207, and the apparatus main body 2 is provided with a left lock member holding portion 208 and a right lock member holding portion 209. There is. When the front door 40 is closed, the left lock member 206 engages the left lock member holding portion 208, and the right lock member 207 engages the right lock member holding portion 209. By these engagements, the front door 40 is held in a closed position with respect to the device main body 2. Further, the front door 40 is provided with a front door urging member 210. When the front door 40 is in the closed state, the front door urging member 210 gives urging force to the front door 40 and the device main body 2. By this urging force, the front door 40 is urged in a direction to be opened with respect to the device main body 2.

When the user opens the front door 40, he first presses the open / close button 205. The left lock member 206 and the right lock member 207 move via a link mechanism (not shown) when the open / close button 205 is pressed, and the left lock member holding portion 208 and the right lock member holding portion 209 are engaged with each other, respectively. It will be released. When the left lock member 206 and the right lock member 207 are disengaged, the front door 40 is centered on the left hinge rotation shaft 201a and the right hinge rotation shaft 202a by the urging force of the front door urging member 210. It rotates from the position of 8 (a) to the position of FIG. 8 (b).

By moving to this position, the user can hold the edge portion 40c of the front door 40. By operating the edge portion 40c, the user can open the front door 40 to a position rotated by approximately 90 degrees with respect to the closed state, as shown in FIG. 8 (c). Here, the right hinge 202 is provided with a tension spring 306 (see FIG. 9). The tension spring 306 cushions the impact when the user opens the front door 40.

The left hinge 201 and the right hinge 202 are provided with a left hinge stopper portion and a right hinge stopper portion (not shown, respectively). When the front door 40 rotates to the position shown in FIG. 8C, the left hinge stopper portion and the right hinge stopper portion each hit the stoppers provided on the device main body 2 (not shown), and the front door 40 does not open any more. It is regulated by the position. Further, when the front door 40 is closed, it rotates in the reverse order of the opening, and the left lock member 206 and the right lock member 207 engage with the holding portion to be in the closed state.

[Multi-tray unit configuration]
Next, the configuration of the multi-tray unit 211 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 (a) and 10 (a) and 10 (b). FIG. 10A is a perspective view showing the multi-tray unit 211 in use, and FIG. 10B is an enlarged perspective view showing the multi-tray unit.

As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the multi-tray unit 211 as a loading unit has a multi-tray frame body 212, a pair of multi-tray stoppers 213, and a multi-tray 214. When the multi-tray unit 211 is opened, the sheets are loaded on the loading surface 212e located on the upper surface of the multi-tray frame 212 and the multi-tray 214. The multi-tray frame body 212 is provided with a multi-tray frame body clue 212a that can be grasped by the user. When the user uses the multi-tray unit 211, the user holds the multi-tray frame clue 212a and rotates the multi-tray unit 211 around the rotation shaft 212b in the direction of opening the multi-tray unit 211.

Here, the front door 40 is formed with a long hole-shaped front door rail 40d, and the multi-tray frame 212 is provided with a multi-tray frame rail 212c that rises in the thickness direction of the sheet loaded on the multi-tray 214. It is formed. The multi-tray frame rail 212c as an engaging portion projects from the loading surface 212e toward the device main body 2. A long hole portion 212d is formed in the multi-tray frame rail 212c.

The multi-tray stopper 213 as a holding portion is slidably held by the front door rail 40d and the elongated hole portion 212d of the multi-tray frame rail 212c. That is, the elongated hole portion 212d is slidably engaged with the multi-tray stopper 213. When the multi-tray unit 211 rotates to the position shown in FIG. 10A, the multi-tray stopper 213 abuts on the ends of the front door rail 40d and the elongated hole portion 212d of the multi-tray frame rail 212c.

At this time, the rotational force due to the own weight of the multi-tray unit 211 acts in the direction of opening the multi-tray unit 211, and the multi-tray stopper 213 acts to stop the rotational force of the multi-tray unit 211, so that the position of the multi-tray unit 211 is maintained. Will be done. Then, the user can use the multi-tray unit 211 while holding the multi-tray unit 211 at the position shown in FIG. 10A.

A width limiting plate 215 is movably supported in the first direction D1 on the multi-tray frame 212. A sheet is loaded on the loading surface 212e and the multi-tray 214 of the multi-tray frame body 212 by a user, and the position of this sheet is regulated by the width restricting plate 215 in the first direction D1. Then, at the time of image formation, the sheet loaded on the multi-tray 214 is fed by the feeding roller 216 (see FIG. 1).

[Tray contact unit configuration]
Next, the tray contact unit 219 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 (a), 6 and 11. FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view showing the tray contact unit 219. As described above, when the developing cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K are mounted on the cartridge tray 3, the electrical contacts of the developing cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K and the tray memory contacts 720Y, 720M, 720C, 720K are connected. ..

As shown in FIG. 6, the tray memory contacts 720Y, 720M, 720C, and 720K are connected to a relay board (not shown) provided on the tray front surface 30f via the wiring portion 730. The relay board is provided with a drum memory tag (not shown), which is a memory medium having information about each photosensitive drum.

As shown in FIG. 5A, a tray contact unit 219 is provided on the tray front surface 30f of the cartridge tray 3. As shown in FIG. 11, the tray contact unit 219 is composed of a tray contact substrate 220, a contact substrate holding member 221, a contact substrate pressing spring 222, and a tray contact frame 223. The relay board is electrically connected to the tray contact board 220 by a wiring portion (not shown).

The tray contact substrate 220 is fixed to the contact substrate holding member 221 by an arbitrary method such as adhesion, double-sided tape, or heat caulking. The contact substrate pressing spring 222 is a compression spring, and is in contact with the contact substrate holding member 221 and the cartridge tray 3, respectively, and is in a compressed state from the natural state of the spring. Due to the spring force of the contact substrate pressing spring 222, the holding member regulating portion 221a of the contact substrate holding member 221 and the tray contact frame body regulating portion 223a of the tray contact frame body 223 are held in contact with each other. The tray contact frame body 223 is fixed to the cartridge tray 3.

The tray contact frame body 223 is provided with a float holding portion 223b. The float holding portion 223b is arranged on four surfaces so as to surround the contact substrate holding member 221. The float holding portion 223b and the contact board holding member 221 are arranged with a clearance so that the contact board holding member 221 can move a certain amount in the first direction D1 and the second direction D2, and the tray contact frame body 223. Is held in.

[Peripheral configuration of door contact unit]
Next, the peripheral configuration of the door contact unit 224 provided on the front door 40 will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 14. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a door contact unit 224 and a tray contact unit 219. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the door contact unit 224 and its peripheral configuration. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing the multi-tray frame body 212 and the multi-tray frame body rail 212c.

As shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, the door contact unit 224 as the door contact comes into contact with the tray contact unit 219 provided on the cartridge tray 3 and is electrically connected in a state where the front door 40 is closed. It is arranged so as to. The door contact unit 224 has a door contact holder 226 fixed to the front door 40 and a door contact member 225 held by the door contact holder 226.

The door contact holder 226 is formed in a box shape in which the side facing the device main body 2 is open, and the door contact member 225 is housed in the door contact holder 226. The edge of the door contact holder 226 constitutes a contact positioning portion 226a formed in a taper shape toward the door contact member 225, and the contact positioning portion 226a is a tray contact unit 219 when the front door 40 is closed. Position. The door contact member 225 has a metal contact portion and is connected to the tag main body bundle wire 305 as a bundle wire.

Further, the front door 40 has a protruding portion 40a which is arranged on the left side in the first direction D1 of the door contact unit 224 and protrudes toward the cartridge tray 3 mounted on the apparatus main body 2. As shown in FIG. 14, the multi-tray frame rail 212c is housed in the projecting portion 40a, and the projecting portion 40a projects toward the cartridge tray 3 so as not to interfere with the multi-tray frame rail 212c. It is formed like this.

The door contact unit 224 is arranged inside the device, that is, to the right of the protrusion 40a in the first direction D1. This is because the front door 40 is miniaturized and the image forming apparatus 1 is miniaturized in the third direction D3. FIG. 15 shows a comparative example in which the door contact unit 224 is arranged in a region overlapping the protrusion 40a in the first direction D1. In this comparative example, as shown in FIG. 15, the distance from the front surface of the multi-tray frame 212 of the front door 40 to the back surface of the door contact unit 224 is the distance L3.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 14, in the present embodiment, the distance from the front surface of the multi-tray frame body 212 to the back surface of the door contact unit 224 is a distance L2. The distance L2 is smaller than the distance L3. By arranging the door contact unit 224 so as to be offset from the protrusion 40a in the first direction D1 in this way, the image forming apparatus 1 can be miniaturized.

Further, the tray operation unit 30a has a downward concave shape as shown in FIG. 5B, and is configured to be held by inserting a hand from below. Therefore, if the tray contact unit 219 is arranged in the same area as the tray operation unit 30a in the first direction D1, the door contact unit 224 interferes with the user's operation or the user touches the door contact unit 224. The risk is high. Here, as described above, the tray contact unit 219 and the door contact unit 224 are arranged in the same area in the first direction D1 because they are in contact with each other.

Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the tray contact unit 219 and the door contact unit 224 are arranged outside the device in the first direction D1 with respect to the left end surface 130 of the tray operation unit 30a. Further, the tray contact unit 219 and the door contact unit 224 are arranged in a region below the tray operation unit 30a in the second direction D2 as the vertical direction. As a result, even when the user opens the front door 40, it is difficult for the user to touch the tray contact unit 219, and damage to the tray contact unit 219 can be reduced.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, a convex portion 753 and a reinforcing rib 40b protruding from the back surface of the front door 40 are provided in the vicinity of the door contact unit 224. The convex portion 753 has two protrusions 753a and 753b, and the reinforcing rib 40b as a rib is integrally formed with the protrusion 753a.

The convex portion 753 is arranged at a position facing the concave portion 752 provided on the tray front surface 30f of the cartridge tray 3 with the front door 40 closed. Therefore, when the front door 40 is closed with respect to the device main body 2, the convex portion 753 provided on the front door 40 enters the concave portion 752 of the cartridge tray 3. At this time, the convex portion 753 is arranged with a slight gap from the tray front surface 30f of the cartridge tray 3.

The convex portion 753 and the concave portion 752 are configured so that only the cartridge tray 3 applicable to the apparatus main body 2 can be mounted. For example, when a cartridge tray that is not applicable to the apparatus main body 2 and does not have a recess 752 is attached to the apparatus main body 2, even if the front door 40 is to be closed, the convex portion 753 comes into contact with the attached cartridge tray and the front door 40 cannot be closed tightly. Further, when the cartridge tray 3 which is applicable to the apparatus main body 2 and has the concave portion 752 is attached to the apparatus main body 2, the convex portion 753 does not come into contact with the cartridge tray 3 and the front door 40 can be firmly closed. This makes it possible to prevent mounting of a cartridge tray that is incompatible with the image forming apparatus 1.

Further, the reinforcing rib 40b is arranged so as to avoid interference with the tray operating portion 30a, and secures the rigidity of the front door 40. The door contact unit 224 and the tray contact unit 219 are arranged on the outside of the device, that is, on the left side of the reinforcing rib 40b in the first direction D1.

Therefore, it is preferable that the tray contact unit 219 and the door contact unit 224 are arranged in the region L1 in the first direction D1 as shown in FIG. The area L1 is located outside the device, that is, on the side of the multi-tray frame rail 212c and on the side of the tray operation unit 30a of the multi-tray frame rail 212c in the first direction D1. be. More preferably, the tray contact unit 219 and the door contact unit 224 are arranged closer to the tray operating portion 30a than the protruding portion 40a in the first direction D1.

More preferably, the tray contact unit 219 and the door contact unit 224 are arranged on the same side as the convex portion 753 with respect to the tray operating portion 30a in the first direction D1. More preferably, the tray contact unit 219 and the door contact unit 224 are arranged closer to the multi-tray frame rail 212c than the reinforcing ribs 40b.

[Door contact contact operation]
Next, the contact operation of the door contact unit 224 with respect to the tray contact unit 219 will be described with reference to FIGS. 12, 13, 16 and 17. FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the image forming apparatus 1 in the process of closing the front door and operating. FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the door contact unit 224 is in contact with the tray contact unit 219.

When the front door 40 is closed from the open state, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the contact positioned portion 221b of the contact substrate holding member 221 and the contact positioning portion 226a of the door contact holder 226 engage with each other. .. As described above, the contact substrate holding member 221 that is movably held in the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 is restricted from moving in the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 by this engagement. According to this regulation, the tray contact board 220 held by the contact board holding member 221 and the door contact member 225 held by the door contact holder 226 are aligned in the first direction D1 and the second direction D2. In this state, the contact portion provided on the tray contact substrate 220 and the contact portion of the door contact member 225 come into contact with each other and are electrically connected.

In this embodiment, the tray contact unit 219 is restricted from moving in the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 by the door contact unit 224, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the contact board holding member 221 of the door contact unit 224 may be configured to be movable in the first direction D1 and the second direction D2, and the movement of the contact board holding member 221 may be regulated by the tray contact unit 219. Further, the structure of the contact is not limited to the substrate, and may be another one such as a spring or a metal wire.

As described above, in this embodiment, the tray contact unit 219 and the door contact unit 224 are arranged in the region L1 in the first direction D1 as shown in FIG. As a result, the device can be miniaturized, the operability of the tray operation unit 30a is not hindered, and the user can reduce the contact with the door contact unit 224. As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide one form of an image forming apparatus that has both operability and miniaturization.

In this embodiment, the tray contact unit 219 and the door contact unit 224 are arranged on the left side of the tray operation unit 30a, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the tray contact unit 219 and the door contact unit 224 may be arranged on the right side of the tray operation unit 30a.

Further, in this embodiment, the tray contact unit 219 is provided in a region below the tray operation unit 30a in the second direction D2, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the tray contact unit 219 may be provided at the same height as the tray operation unit 30a, or the tray contact unit 219 may be provided above the tray operation unit 30a.

<Second Example>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The second embodiment is configured by taking measures against electrostatic discharge in the image forming apparatus of the first embodiment. Therefore, the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will be described by omitting the illustration or adding the same reference numerals to the drawings.

[Theme]
FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus 1001 as a comparative example. Note that FIG. 18 shows the front door open state, with the left side exterior and the paper feed tray exterior not shown for explanation. As shown in FIG. 18, the front door 40 is supported by the left hinge 201 and the right hinge 202 so as to be openable and closable with respect to the device main body 2. The tag body bundle wire 305 is electrically connected to the door contact member 225 of the door contact unit 224 provided on the front door 40. The tag body bundle wire 305 is electrically connected to the control board 43 via the left hinge 201.

The image forming apparatus 1001 as a comparative example has the following problems. When an electrostatic conductor or a user approaches or comes into contact with the door contact member 225 or the tag body bundle wire 305, electrostatic discharge (Electrostatic Discharge, hereinafter referred to as ESD) may occur. Then, when the current caused by ESD reaches the control board 43 from, for example, the door contact member 225 via the tag main body bundle line 305, the element on the control board 43 may be electrically destroyed.

In particular, in the image forming apparatus 1001, the user operates the tray operating unit 30a to attach / detach the cartridge tray 3. When the front door 40 is open, the door contact member 225 faces the area accessed by the user's hand, so that the user is more likely to approach or contact the door contact member 225.

[Constitution]
Next, a configuration for solving the above problems will be described with reference to FIGS. 19 to 22 (b). FIG. 19 is an enlarged perspective view showing an enlarged broken line portion of the image forming apparatus 1B. FIG. 20 is an enlarged perspective view showing the peripheral configuration of the door contact member 225 of the door contact unit 224. FIG. 21 is an enlarged perspective view showing the tension spring 306 and the wire spring 309. FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing the peripheral configuration of the left hinge 201. FIG. 23 (a) is a perspective view showing the arrangement relationship between the wire spring 309 and the tag main body bundle line 305, and FIG. 23 (b) is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of 23B-23B of FIG. 23 (a). Note that FIG. 19 does not show the left side exterior, the rear side exterior, and the paper feed tray exterior for the sake of explanation.

As shown in FIG. 19, the image forming apparatus 1B has a left side plate 300, a rear sheet metal 301, and a left front sheet metal 302, and the left side plate 300 is fastened to the rear sheet metal 301 and the left front sheet metal 302 with screws. It is electrically connected. The rear sheet metal 301 is connected to the ground pin 303 of the inlet via the ground pin cable 304 and the screw. The left front sheet metal 302 is positioned by the hook portions 307a and 307b of the mold frame 397.

In this embodiment, the electrical connection between the members described above is performed by screw fastening and a cable, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, other methods such as welding and contact springs may be used as long as electrical connection between the members is possible.

The left hinge 201 is provided with a tension spring 306 that urges the front door 40 in the closing direction with respect to the device main body 2 in order to alleviate the impact when the front door 40 is opened. The tension spring 306 is an elastic body having conductivity. One end portion 306a of the tension spring 306 is held by the spring hook portion 302a of the left front sheet metal 302. The tension spring 306 has a maximum urging force (elastic force) when the front door 40 is open. Therefore, when the front door 40 is open, the contact pressure between the tension spring 306 and the left front sheet metal 302 is maximized, and the tension spring 306 and the left front sheet metal 302 are stably electrically connected.

Next, the configuration around the front door 40 will be described with reference to FIGS. 20 and 21. As shown in FIG. 20, the front door 40 is held in the open position by the front door link 227 and the front door rod 228. Note that FIG. 21 does not show the front door link 227, the front door rod 228, and the bundle wire protection cover 308 for the sake of explanation.

As shown in FIG. 20, the door contact member 225 of the door contact unit 224 is electrically connected to the control board 43. Further, the door contact unit 224 comes into contact with the tray contact unit 219 when the front door 40 is in the closed position and is electrically connected to the tray contact unit 219. The door contact unit 224 is configured to be exposed to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1B without contacting the tray contact unit 219 when the front door 40 is located in the open position.

As shown in FIG. 21, the other end portion 309b of the conductive wire spring 309 is fastened to the other end portion 306b of the tension spring 306 with a screw, and the tension spring 306 and the wire spring 309 are electrically connected to each other. It is connected. As a result, the wire spring 309, the tension spring 306, the left front sheet metal 302, the left side plate 300, the ground pin cable 304 and the ground pin 303 are electrically connected, and the wire spring 309 and the tension spring 306 function as an electric ground. That is, the tension spring 306 constitutes a grounded grounded portion and an urging portion. In this embodiment, the wire spring 309 is used as the conductive member, but the shape and material of the conductive member are not limited. For example, as the conductive member, a conductive member having a shape such as a sheet or a plate may be used. Further, the wire spring 309 is provided so as not to be electrically connected to the electric path from the door contact unit 224 to the control board 43.

The tag body bundle wire 305 is connected to the door contact member 225 as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22. The tag body bundle wire 305 is connected to the door contact member 225 and the tray contact unit 219 when the front door 40 is closed, so that the memory tags 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81K of each developing cartridge (see FIG. 3). Information can be transmitted to the control board 43.

As shown in FIGS. 20 to 22, the tag body bundle line 305 goes from the door contact member 225 toward the left hinge 201. At this time, a bundle wire protection cover 308 that covers the tag body bundle wire 305 is provided above the tag body bundle wire 305. As a result, it is possible to reduce that the user touches the tag main body bundle line 305 and the control board 43 is damaged by ESD. A minute gap is always generated between the front door 40 and the bundled wire protective cover 308, and even in this minute gap, a discharge phenomenon may occur between the user and the tag main body bundled wire 305.

As shown in FIG. 22, the tag main body bundle wire 305 passes through the left hinge rotation shaft 201a, which is the rotation axis of the front door 40, and is held by the bundle wire holder 310 shown in FIG. Further, the tag main body bundle line 305 is arranged to the rear of the device and is connected to the control board 43.

By the way, the user accesses the cartridge tray 3 from above the image forming apparatus 1B. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 21, the tension spring 306 and the tag body bundle wire 305 are arranged on the same left hinge 201 of the left and right hinges. In other words, both the tension spring 306 and the tag body bundle wire 305 are located on the left hinge 201 as the first hinge and not on the right hinge 202 as the second hinge. As a result, the tension spring 306 can protect the tag body bundle wire 305 from ESD, and damage to the control board 43 can be reduced.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 20 to 23 (b), the wire spring 309 is arranged above the tag main body bundle line 305 along the tag main body bundle line 305. Further, the one end portion 309a of the wire spring 309 is arranged in the vicinity of the door contact member 225 so as to be exposed to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1B when the front door 40 is located at the open position. More specifically, the one end portion 309a of the wire spring 309 is arranged above the contact portion 225a of the door contact member 225 and is arranged so as to surround the door contact member 225. The other end 309b of the wire spring 309 is electrically connected to the tension spring 306. By arranging the wire spring 309 in this way, it is possible to reduce that the user's hand, the conductor, etc., which are normally accessed from above, come into contact with the door contact member 225 without touching the wire spring 309.

Further, ESD may occur even when the user's hand or conductor is in close proximity to the user's hand or conductor, but the line is more than the contact portion 225a of the door contact member 225 or the tag body bundle wire 305. The spring 309 is placed closer. Therefore, even if ESD occurs, the current does not flow through the contact portion 225a of the door contact member 225 or the tag main body bundled wire 305, but flows through the grounded wire spring 309 or the tension spring 306. As a result, damage to the control board 43 can be reduced. As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide one form of an image forming apparatus in which damage to the control board 43 is reduced.

In this embodiment, the electric product to be protected from ESD is, for example, the door contact member 225, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other electric parts such as motors and sensors are configured to be protected from ESD. You may.

<Third Example>
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the third embodiment, the tension spring 306 of the second embodiment is replaced with the torsion coil spring 311. Therefore, the same configuration as that of the second embodiment will be described by omitting the illustration or adding the same reference numerals to the drawings.

[Peripheral configuration of torsion coil spring]
24 (a) and 24 (b) are perspective views showing a torsion coil spring 311. As shown in FIGS. 24A and 24B, the torsion coil spring 311 has a coil portion 311a, one end portion 311b extending from the coil portion 311a to one side, and the other end portion 311c extending from the coil portion 311a to the other side. .. The coil portion 311a of the torsion coil spring 311 is pivotally supported by the left hinge rotation shaft 201a, and one end portion 311b is locked to the spring receiving portion 302b of the left front sheet metal 302.

The other end 311c of the torsion coil spring 311 is electrically connected to the wire spring 309 by a screw. Further, the torsion coil spring 311 reduces the impact when the front door 40 is opened by pressing the spring receiving portion 201b provided on the left hinge 201 by the other end portion 311c.

Similar to the second embodiment, the torsion coil spring 311 has the maximum urging force (elastic force) when the front door 40 is open. Therefore, when the front door 40 is open, the contact pressure between the torsion coil spring 311 and the left front sheet metal 302 is maximized, and the torsion coil spring 311 and the left front sheet metal 302 are stably electrically connected.

[effect]
With such a configuration, the wire spring 309 and the torsion coil spring 311 function as an electric ground. Then, as in the second embodiment, the wire spring 309 and the torsion coil spring 311 protect the tag body bundled wire 305 and the door contact member 225 from ESD, and damage to the control board 43 can be reduced. Further, the torsion coil spring 311 can be selected with respect to the arrangement constraint around the left hinge 201, and the degree of freedom in design can be improved. As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide one form of an image forming apparatus in which damage to the control board 43 is reduced while improving the degree of freedom in design.

<Fourth Example>
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the fourth embodiment, the configuration of the door contact member 225 of the first embodiment is changed. Therefore, the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will be described by omitting the illustration or adding the same reference numerals to the drawings.

[Theme]
In the configuration in which the door contact member 225 arranged on the front door 40 is electrically connected to the control board 43 via the tag body bundle wire 305 passing through the left hinge 201 as in the first embodiment, the following There is such a problem.

When an electrostatic conductor or a user approaches or comes into contact with the door contact member 225 or the tag body bundle wire 305, ESD may occur. Then, when the current caused by ESD reaches the control board 43 from, for example, the door contact member 225 via the tag main body bundle line 305, the element on the control board 43 may be electrically destroyed.

In particular, when the front door 40 is open, the door contact member 225 faces the area accessed by the user's hand, so that there is a high possibility that the user approaches or comes into contact with the door contact member 225.

[Constitution]
Next, a configuration for solving the above problems will be described with reference to FIGS. 25 to 27 (b). FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view showing the image forming apparatus 1D according to the present embodiment. 26 (a) is a perspective view showing the apparatus main body 402 and the cartridge tray 403, FIG. 26 (b) is a perspective view showing an intermediate contact portion 450, and FIG. 26 (c) is an intermediate contact portion 450. It is an enlarged perspective view which shows. 27 (a) is a cross-sectional view showing an intermediate contact portion 450 in a state where the front door 440 is closed, and FIG. 27 (b) is a cross-sectional view showing an intermediate contact portion 450 in a state where the front door 440 is open. It is a figure.

As shown in FIGS. 25 to 26 (c), the image forming apparatus 1D has an apparatus main body 402 and a front door 440 that is openably and closably supported by the apparatus main body 402. A cartridge tray 403 is mounted on the apparatus main body 402 so as to be retractable, and a tray contact board 420 as a unit contact is provided on the tray front surface 403f of the cartridge tray 403 as a unit holder. The main body contact board 422 is provided on the main body 402, and the main body contact board 422 as the main body contact is arranged above the tray contact board 420.

The tray contact board 420 is a board-shaped contact member, and has a tray contact board contact surface 420a facing the front door 440 located in a closed state. The tray contact board 420 is arranged at a position close to the control board 43 in the first direction D1, and the main body contact bundle line 423 connected to the main body contact board 422, which will be described later, can be shortened.

The main body contact board 422 is provided on the front surface 402f of the device main body 402, and is a board-like contact arranged above the tray contact board 420 in the second direction D2. The main body contact board 422 has a main body contact board contact surface 422a facing the front door 440 located in the closed state, and is provided on the side of the device main body 402 via the main body contact bundle line 423. It is connected to 43.

The apparatus main body 402 has an LB stay 489 that holds the laser scanner unit LB (see FIG. 1), and the main body contact substrate 422 is arranged in the vicinity of the LB stay 489 as a grounding member. Since the LB stay 489 is grounded, the main body contact board 422 can be protected from ESD even if the user's hand approaches or comes into contact with the main body contact board 422. In this way, it is possible to take ESD countermeasures for the main body contact board 422 without adding parts.

An intermediate contact portion 450 is arranged on the front door 440, and the intermediate contact portion 450 has an intermediate contact spring 451 and an intermediate contact holder 452. The intermediate contact spring 451 as an elastic member is supported by the intermediate contact holder 452 and is composed of a plurality of spring wires having conductivity and elasticity. The number of spring wires is provided in a number corresponding to the number of contacts on the tray contact board contact surface 420a.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 27 (b), the intermediate contact spring 451 has the intermediate contact holders 452 at both ends 451c and 451d in a state where the central portion is pressed by the pressing ribs 452a of the intermediate contact holder 452. It is held by the holding ribs 452b and 452c. As described above, the intermediate contact spring 451 is held by the intermediate contact holder 452 in a state of being elastically deformed by being pressed by the pressing rib 452a, and when the front door 440 is opened, both ends 451c, 451d and the holding rib 452b, There is no gap between it and 452c.

The intermediate contact spring 451 has a first intermediate contact 451a that can be electrically connected to the tray contact board contact surface 420a of the tray contact board 420, and a second intermediate contact spring 451 that can be electrically connected to the main body contact board contact surface 422a of the main body contact board 422. It has two intermediate contacts 451b. The first intermediate contact 451a constitutes the first contact, and the second intermediate contact 451b constitutes the second contact.

As shown in FIG. 27 (a), when the front door 440 is closed with respect to the apparatus main body 402, the first intermediate contact 451a and the second intermediate contact 451b of the intermediate contact spring 451 become the main body contact board 422 and the tray, respectively. It is pressed against the contact substrate 420.

Then, the intermediate contact spring 451 is elastically deformed, and the first intermediate contact 451a and the second intermediate contact 451b are held in a state of being urged toward the main body contact board 422 and the tray contact board 420, respectively. In other words, the intermediate contact spring 451 is elastically deformed so that the first intermediate contact 451a is in pressure contact with the tray contact substrate 420 and the second intermediate contact 451b is in pressure contact with the main body contact substrate 422. As a result, the first intermediate contact 451a and the second intermediate contact 451b of the intermediate contact spring 451 can stably contact the main body contact board 422 and the tray contact board 420, respectively, and secure an electrical connection. Therefore, the memory tags 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81K (see FIG. 3) of each developing cartridge are reliably electrically connected to the control board 43 via the tray contact board 420, the intermediate contact spring 451 and the main body contact board 422. Be connected.

When the front door 440 is closed, the first intermediate contact 451a and the second intermediate contact 451b are pressed by the main body contact board 422 and the tray contact board 420, respectively, so that both ends 451c and 451d and the holding ribs 452b, respectively. A gap x is formed between 452c. That is, the intermediate contact holder 452 is provided with play so that both end portions 451c and 451d of the intermediate contact spring 451 can be retracted. As a result, the first intermediate contact 451a and the second intermediate contact 451b can be more reliably pressed against the main body contact board 422 and the tray contact board 420 when the front door 440 is closed.

In other words, the first intermediate contact 451a contacts the tray contact board 420 and is electrically connected to the tray contact board 420 when the front door 440 is in the closed position. Further, the first intermediate contact 451a is configured to be exposed to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1D without contacting the tray contact substrate 420 when the front door 440 is located at the open position. The second intermediate contact 451b comes into contact with the main body contact board 422 and is electrically connected to the main body contact board 422 when the front door 440 is in the closed position. Further, the second intermediate contact 451b is configured to be exposed to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1D without contacting the main body contact substrate 422 when the front door 440 is located at the open position.

Further, the intermediate contact holder 452 is arranged so as to face the multi-tray 214 with the front door 440 in between, and has a width so that the multi-tray 414 can be closed regardless of the position of the width restricting plate 415 in the first direction D1. It has a shape that avoids the regulation plate 415.

[effect]
As described above, in this embodiment, the tray contact board 420, the main body contact board 422, and the intermediate contact portion 450 are provided on the cartridge tray 403, the device main body 402, and the front door 440, respectively. As a result, when the front door 440 is closed, the memory tags 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81K (see FIG. 3) of each developing cartridge are electrically connected to the control board 43, and the memory tag information is transmitted to the control board 43. Can be read.

Further, when the front door 440 is opened, no other electrical component is electrically connected to the intermediate contact portion 450 provided on the front door 440. As a result, even if a current flows through the intermediate contact spring 451 due to the generation of ESD, other electrical components do not break down, and the ESD countermeasure component of the contact component on the front door 440 side becomes unnecessary. Further, it is not necessary to provide a path of the main body contact bundle line 423 around the hinge of the front door 440, and it is possible to improve the commutativity of the service exchange of the front door 440. As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide one form of an image forming apparatus in which damage to the control board 43 is reduced while reducing costs.

[Modified example of the fourth embodiment]
In this embodiment, the LB stay 489 is used to take measures against ESD of the main body contact substrate 422, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, instead of the LB stay 489, the main body contact board 422 may be arranged in the vicinity of other grounded parts to take measures against ESD.

Further, in this embodiment, the intermediate contact spring 451 is held by the intermediate contact holder 452, but the intermediate contact spring 451 may be directly held by the front door 440. Further, as the intermediate contact spring 451, a material or shape other than the spring wire may be applied as long as it has conductivity and elasticity.

Further, if the first intermediate contact 451a and the second intermediate contact 451b of the intermediate contact spring 451 are configured to be pressed against the main body contact board 422 and the tray contact board 420, respectively, with the front door 440 closed. , The intermediate contact spring 451 may be made of an inelastic body. For example, the intermediate contact holder 452 may elastically hold the intermediate contact spring 451, or the main body contact board 422 and the tray contact board 420 may be elastic.

Further, in this embodiment, the intermediate contact portion 450 is used to electrically connect the memory tags 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81K of each developing cartridge and the control board 43, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the intermediate contact portion 450 may be used to connect the charging contact, the contact of the toner remaining amount detection unit, the contact of the sheet detection unit, and the like to the control board 43.

Further, the arrangement relationship of the tray contact substrate 420, the main body contact substrate 422, and the intermediate contact portion 450 is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 28, the tray contact substrate 420 and the main body contact substrate 422 may be arranged side by side in the first direction D1.

Further, in this embodiment, the main body contact board 422 and the tray contact board 420 are connected by the intermediate contact spring 451 of the intermediate contact portion 450, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIGS. 29 (a) and 29 (b), the tag contact connector 460 may be applied instead of the intermediate contact spring 451.

The tag contact connector 460 has a first contact connector 460a as a first connector facing the tray contact board 420 and a second contact as a second connector facing the main body contact board 422 with the front door 440 closed. It has a connector 460b and. Further, the tag contact connector 460 has an intermediate contact bundle wire 461 as a wiring portion for connecting the first contact connector 460a and the second contact connector 460b.

The second contact connector 460b is arranged above the first contact connector 460a. The first contact connector 460a has a first contact portion 462 electrically connected to the tray contact board 420, and the second contact connector 460b has a second contact portion 463 electrically connected to the main body contact board 422. have.

As described above, by using the tag contact connector 460, it is possible to reduce the occupied space of the contact. In this embodiment, two rows of tag contact connectors 460 are used, but an arbitrary shape tag contact connector 460 may be used.

<Fifth Example>
Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the fifth embodiment, the configuration of pressing the cartridge tray 3 by the front door 40 of the first embodiment is changed. Therefore, the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will be described by omitting the illustration or adding the same reference numerals to the drawings.

[Theme]
30 to 33 (c) are views showing an image forming apparatus 1002 as a comparative example. FIG. 30 is an overall cross-sectional view showing the image forming apparatus 1002. FIG. 31A is a perspective view showing the image forming apparatus 1002 in a state where the front door 40 is open. FIG. 31B is a cross-sectional view showing an image forming apparatus 1002 in a state where the front door 40 is open.

FIG. 32A is a perspective view showing the image forming apparatus 1002 holding the cartridge tray 3 located at the intermediate position. FIG. 32B is a cross-sectional view showing an image forming apparatus 1002 that holds the cartridge tray 3 located in the middle position. 33 (a) to 33 (c) are cross-sectional views showing how the front door 40 is closed.

As a comparative example, the image forming apparatus 1002 includes an apparatus main body 602 that holds the cartridge tray 3 detachably and a front door 40 that is openably and closably supported by the apparatus main body 602, as shown in FIGS. 30 to 31 (b). And have.

A tray contact unit 591 electrically connected to the memory tags 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81K (see FIG. 3) of each developing cartridge is arranged on the tray front surface 30f of the cartridge tray 3. The tray contact unit 591 projects forward from the tray front surface 30f.

A door contact unit 590 is arranged on the front door 40 so as to be electrically connected to the control board 43 via the tag body bundle wire 305 passing through the left hinge 201 (see FIG. 9). The control board 43 is electrically connected to the memory tags 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81K (see FIG. 3) when the front door 40 is closed and the door contact unit 590 and the tray contact unit 591 come into contact with each other.

In FIGS. 29 (a) and 29 (b), the cartridge tray 3 is held at an intermediate position slightly pulled out from the mounting position. That is, the cartridge tray 3 located in the middle position is not firmly attached to the apparatus main body 602.

When the front door 40 is closed in this state, the door contact unit 590 collides with the tray contact unit 591 as shown in FIG. 30A. Then, as the front door 40 is further closed, as shown in FIGS. 30 (b) and 30 (c), the door contact unit 590 provided on the front door 40 presses the tray contact unit 591 to press the cartridge tray. 3 will be pushed into the mounting position.

When such an operation is performed, a large load is applied to the door contact unit 590 and the tray contact unit 591, and unintended friction is generated, so that the contact portions of the door contact unit 590 and the tray contact unit 591 may be damaged. There is. If the contact portions of the door contact unit 590 and the tray contact unit 591 are damaged, the information of the memory tags 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81K (see FIG. 3) cannot be read.

[Constitution]
Next, a configuration for solving the above problems will be described with reference to FIGS. 34 (a) to 41 (b). FIG. 34A is a perspective view showing the image forming apparatus 1E in a state where the front door 40 is open. FIG. 34B is a front view showing the image forming apparatus 1E in a state where the front door 40 is open. FIG. 35 (a) is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of 35A-35A of FIG. 34 (b). FIG. 35 (b) is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of 35B-35B of FIG. 34 (b). FIG. 36 (a) is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 35 (a). FIG. 36 (b) is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 35 (b). The 35A-35A cross section is a cross section that passes through the central portion of the tray contact unit 219.

As shown in FIGS. 34 (a) to 36 (b), the image forming apparatus 1E according to the present embodiment includes an apparatus main body 2 and a front door 40 that is openably and closably supported by the apparatus main body 2. ing. A cartridge tray 3 is mounted on the apparatus main body 2 so as to be retractable, and a tray contact unit 219 is provided on the tray front surface 30f of the cartridge tray 3. As shown in FIG. 36A, the contact portion 219c in the tray contact unit 219 is arranged behind the tray front surface 30f by a distance L4. The tray front surface 30f may include the pressed portion 751 or may not be provided with the pressed portion 751.

The front door 40 has a door contact unit 224 and a front door assist plate 501. The front door assist plate 501 protrudes upward when the front door 40 is in the open position, and protrudes toward the device main body 2 when the front door 40 is in the closed position. Further, the front door assist plate 501 is arranged at a position corresponding to the tray left side surface 30l of the cartridge tray 3 in the first direction D1. The front door 40 has a curved surface 501a on the upper surface side.

Further, a slope portion 512 is formed on the tray left side surface 30l of the cartridge tray 3. The slope portion 512 is inclined downward from the same surface as the tray front surface 30f toward the rear. The slope portion 512 is configured to accommodate the front door assist plate 501 when the cartridge tray 3 is located at the mounting position and the front door 40 is located at the closed position. The slope shape of the slope portion 512 is a shape along the curved surface 501a of the front door assist plate 501.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 34A and 34B, the front door assist plate 501 is arranged at a position different from that of the tray contact unit 219 in the first direction D1. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent the front door assist plate 501 and the tray contact unit 219 from coming into contact with each other due to the closing operation of the front door 40.

FIG. 37 is a cross-sectional view showing how the cartridge tray 3 is held at an intermediate position as a third position between the mounting position and the drawer position. That is, the cartridge tray 3 located in the middle position is not firmly attached to the apparatus main body 2.

Hereinafter, a case where the front door 40 is closed from the open position to the closed position while the cartridge tray 3 is located in the middle position will be described. FIG. 38A is a front view showing an image forming apparatus in a state where the front door 40 is slightly opened. FIG. 38 (b) is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of 38B-38B of FIG. 38 (a). FIG. 38 (c) is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of 38C-38C of FIG. 38 (a). FIG. 39 is an enlarged perspective view showing a tray contact unit 219 and a door contact unit 224 in a state where the front door 40 is slightly opened.

FIG. 40A is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the tray contact unit 219 with the front door 40 closed. FIG. 40B is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section in the vicinity of the front door assist plate 501 with the front door 40 further closed. FIG. 41A is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the front door 40 passing through the tray contact unit 219 in a closed position. FIG. 41B is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the vicinity of the front door assist plate 501 in a state where the front door 40 is located at the closed position.

As shown in FIGS. 37 to 39, when the user closes the front door 40 while the cartridge tray 3 is located in the middle position, the front door assist plate 501 collides with the slope portion 512 of the cartridge tray 3. At this time, before the front door assist plate 501 collides with the slope portion 512 of the cartridge tray 3, neither the front door 40 nor the cartridge tray 3 members collide with each other. That is, the front door assist plate 501 collides with the slope portion 512 of the cartridge tray 3 before the door contact unit 224 and the tray contact unit 219 come into contact with each other.

Further, when the front door 40 is closed, as shown in FIGS. 40A and 40B, the front door assist plate 501 presses the slope portion 512 of the cartridge tray 3, and the cartridge tray 3 is directed toward the mounting position. Moving. Even in this state, the door contact unit 224 and the tray contact unit 219 do not come into contact with each other.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 41 (a) and 41 (b), when the front door 40 is positioned at the closed position, the cartridge tray 3 reaches the mounting position by the front door assist plate 501, and the door contact unit 224 and the tray contact unit 219. Contact each other. At this time, the front door assist plate 501 is slightly separated from the slope portion 512, and is configured so that a large load is not applied to the front door assist plate 501 and the cartridge tray 3. This is realized by the curvature of the curved surface 501a of the front door assist plate 501 and the slope shape of the slope portion 512.

A positioning mechanism for positioning the cartridge tray 3 at the mounting position when the cartridge tray 3 is located at the mounting position and the front door 40 is located at the closed position may be separately provided.

[effect]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the cartridge tray 3 can be pressed by the front door assist plate 501 when the front door 40 is closed from the open position to the closed position. Then, the door contact unit 224 and the tray contact unit 219 do not come into contact with each other until the front door 40 is in the closed position. As a result, for example, even when the cartridge tray 3 is held in the middle position, it is possible to reduce the application of a large load or frictional force to the door contact unit 224 and the tray contact unit 219, and it is possible to reduce damage to these contact units. As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide one form of an image forming apparatus in which damage to the contact unit is reduced.

Further, the cartridge tray 3 located at the intermediate position can be reliably moved to the mounting position where the image can be formed, and the image formation error can be reduced. Further, when the cartridge tray 3 is located at the mounting position and the front door 40 is located at the closed position, the front door assist plate 501 is slightly separated from the slope portion 512, so that the front door assist plate 501 and the front door assist plate 501 and the front door assist plate 501 are slightly separated from each other. Damage can be reduced without applying a large load to the cartridge tray 3.

In this embodiment, when the cartridge tray 3 is located at the mounting position and the front door 40 is located at the closed position, the front door assist plate 501 is separated from the slope portion 512, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the front door assist plate 501 may be configured to come into contact with the slope portion 512 when the cartridge tray 3 is located at the mounting position and the front door 40 is located at the closed position. In this case, it is preferable that at least one of the front door assist plate 501 and the slope portion 512 is made of an elastic member. As a result, the cartridge tray 3 can be reliably positioned at the mounting position while reducing damage to the front door assist plate 501 and the slope portion 512.

Further, in the present embodiment, the door contact unit 224 and the tray contact unit 219 are configured to come into contact with each other only after the front door 40 reaches the closed position, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if a large load or frictional force does not act on the door contact unit 224 and the tray contact unit 219, the door contact unit 224 and the tray contact unit 219 come into contact with each other while the front door 40 is located in front of the closed position. You may.

Further, in this embodiment, the slope portion 512 and the tray contact unit 219 are arranged at the lower part of the cartridge tray 3, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the slope portion 512 and the tray contact unit 219 may be arranged on the upper side of the cartridge tray 3.

Further, in this embodiment, the contact portion 219c of the tray contact unit 219 is arranged behind the tray front surface 30f, but the present invention is not limited to this. The contact portion 219c of the tray contact unit 219 does not come into contact with the door contact unit 224 until the front door 40 is in the closed position in the process of closing the front door 40 while the cartridge tray 3 is in the middle position. It suffices if it is arranged in. For example, if the door contact unit 224 is arranged on the multi-tray frame 212 side, that is, on the downstream side in the door opening direction with respect to the tray contact unit 219, the tray contact unit 219 is located on the front door 40. It may be arranged in a close position.

In addition, all the above-described embodiments may be arbitrarily combined with each other.

1,1B, 1D, 1E: Image forming device / 2,402: Device body / 4M: Photosensitive drum / 8M: Development unit (development cartridge) / 30a: Handle part (tray operation part) / 30f: Facing surface (front of tray) ) / 38: Drawer unit / 40,440: Door (front door) / 40a: Protruding part / 40b: Rib (reinforcing rib) / 43: Control board / 81M: Memory medium (memory tag) / 130: End face / 201: 1st hinge (left hinge) / 202: 2nd hinge (right hinge) / 211: Loading part (multi-tray unit) / 212c: Engaging part (multi-tray frame rail) / 212d: Long hole part / 212e: Loading Surface / 213: Holding part (multi-tray stopper) / 219: Unit contact (tray contact unit) / 224: Door contact (door contact unit) / 225a: Contact part / 305: Bundled wire (tag body bundled wire) / 306: Grounding part, urging part, tension spring / 309: conductive member (wire spring) / 309a: one end part / 309b: other end part / 311: urging part, torsion coil spring / 403: unit holder (cartridge tray) / 420: Unit contact (tray contact board) / 422: main body contact (main body contact board) / 451: elastic member (intermediate contact spring) / 451a: first contact (first intermediate contact) / 451b: second contact (second intermediate contact) ) / 460a: 1st connector (1st contact connector) / 460b: 2nd connector (2nd contact connector) / 461: Wiring part (intermediate contact bundle wire) / 489: Grounding member (LB stay) / 753: Convex part / D1: Axial direction (first direction) / D2: Vertical direction (second direction)

Claims (7)

The main body of the device having a control board and
A developing unit having a photosensitive drum that carries a toner image and is configured to be rotatable around a rotation axis, a developing roller that carries toner and supplies toner to the photosensitive drum, and a memory medium that stores information. A drawing unit having a unit contact that is electrically connected to the memory medium of the developing unit, and the developing unit is exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body from a first position where the photosensitive drum can form an image. A drawer unit that can be pulled out from the device body up to the second position,
The drawer unit is movably supported by the device body between a closed position that covers the opening of the device body through which the drawer unit passes when the drawer unit is pulled out from the device body and an open position that opens the opening. With a door facing the drawer unit in the closed position.
The door is configured to be electrically connected to the control board and to be in contact with the unit contact and electrically connected to the unit contact when the door is in the closed position. Have,
The drawer unit has a facing surface facing the door located at the closed position, and a handle portion provided at the center of the facing surface in the axial direction of the rotation axis.
The unit contact is provided in a region outside the end face of the handle portion in the axial direction and in a region below the handle portion in the vertical direction.
An image forming apparatus characterized in that. A loading unit that can be opened and closed on the door and can load seats,
A holding portion for holding the loading portion in an open state with respect to the door is further provided.
The loading portion has a loading surface on which the seat is loaded, and an engaging portion that protrudes from the loading surface toward the device main body and engages with the holding portion.
The unit contacts are arranged on the engaging portion side of the handle portion on the engaging portion side and on the end surface side of the engaging portion in the axial direction.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The door accommodates the engaging portion and has a protruding portion that projects toward the device body.
The unit contact is arranged on the handle portion side of the protruding portion in the axial direction.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. The door has a rib that is arranged on the engaging portion side of the end surface of the handle portion in the axial direction and projects toward the device main body.
The unit contact is arranged on the engaging portion side with respect to the rib in the axial direction.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 or 3. The holding portion is slidably supported by the device body and the engaging portion.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4. The engaging portion has an elongated hole portion that is slidably engaged with the holding portion.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 5. The door projects toward the device body, and when the door moves from the open position to the closed position, it does not come into contact with a drawer unit applicable to the device body and is not applicable to the device body. The unit has convex parts that come into contact with it
The unit contact is arranged on the same side as the convex portion with respect to the handle portion in the axial direction.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the image forming apparatus is characterized in that.

Images