JP2024068631A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a new type of image forming apparatus that is an improvement over conventional technology.
[Solution] The image forming device has a developing device having a developing roller and a storage frame body with a storage section that stores toner to be supplied to the developing roller, a main body frame body that houses the developing device and has an opening, a toner cartridge that stores toner and is attachable to and detachable from the developing device through the opening, the toner cartridge being movable with respect to the storage frame body between an attached position and a retracted position retracted from the attached position and configured to supply toner to the storage section when in the attached position, a moving device configured to move the toner cartridge from the attached position to the retracted position and to move the toner cartridge from the retracted position to the developing roller, and a driving device that includes a driving source and is configured to drive the moving device.
[Selected figure] Figure 12

Description

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

In electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, a rotary development method is known in which a color image is formed by rotating a rotary equipped with multiple developing rollers. Patent documents 1 and 2 describe an image forming apparatus equipped with a rotary equipped with multiple developing rollers and multiple toner cartridges (toner storage containers) that are each detachable from the rotary.

JP 2007-183305 A JP 2008-096852 A

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a new type of image forming device that develops conventional technology.

One aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus comprising: a developing device having a developing roller and a storage frame having a storage portion for storing toner to be supplied to the developing roller; a main body frame housing the developing device and having an opening; a toner cartridge housing the toner and removable from the developing device through the opening, the toner cartridge being movable between an installation position and a retreated position retreated from the installation position with respect to the storage frame and configured to supply the toner to the storage portion when in the installation position; a moving device configured to move the toner cartridge from the installation position to the retreated position and to move the toner cartridge from the retreated position to the installation position; and a driving device including a driving source and configured to drive the moving device.

The present invention provides a new type of image forming device that is an improvement over conventional technology.

1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. 2 is a schematic diagram of a developing unit, a toner cartridge, and a tray according to the first embodiment. 1A and 1B are cross-sectional views of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a rotary body according to the first embodiment. 1A to 1C are perspective views of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. 1A and 1B are cross-sectional views of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a rotary body according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a rotary body according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a rotary body according to the first embodiment. 4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams of a configuration related to the movement of a tray according to the first embodiment. 4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams of a configuration related to the movement of a tray according to the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment. 13A to 13C are explanatory diagrams of a configuration related to the movement of a tray according to a second embodiment. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration related to the movement of a tray according to a third embodiment. 13A to 13C are explanatory diagrams of a configuration related to the movement of a tray according to a third embodiment. 13A and 13B are explanatory diagrams of a configuration related to the movement of a tray according to a fourth embodiment. 13A and 13B are diagrams showing a moving device according to a modified example. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a fifth embodiment.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the drawings.

Example 1
An image forming apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12 (a, b). In the following description and in each drawing, the vertical direction when the image forming apparatus 1 is installed on a horizontal surface is defined as the Z direction. The direction intersecting the Z direction and the direction of the rotation axis 90C of the rotary body 90 (rotary rotation axis direction) described later is defined as the Y direction. The direction intersecting both the Z direction and the Y direction is defined as the X direction. The X direction and the Y direction are preferably horizontal directions. In addition, the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction are preferably mutually orthogonal. In addition, as necessary, the directions of the arrows X, Y, and Z shown in each drawing are respectively represented as the +X side, the +Y side, and the +Z side, and the opposite sides are respectively represented as the -X side, the -Y side, and the -Z side.

(Overall configuration of image forming apparatus)
First, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. The image forming apparatus 1 is a laser beam printer that forms an image on a sheet S by an electrophotographic method. More specifically, the image forming apparatus 1 is a color laser beam printer equipped with four developing units 50y, 50m, 50c, and 50k. As the sheet S, which is a recording material (recording medium), various sheet materials of different sizes and materials can be used, such as paper such as plain paper and cardboard, sheet materials with surface treatments such as plastic film, cloth, and coated paper, and sheet materials with special shapes such as envelopes and index paper.

The schematic configuration and image forming operation of the image forming device 1 will be described using Figures 1, 2, and 3. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the cross-sectional configuration of the image forming device 1. Figure 2 is a diagram explaining the drive source of the image forming device 1. Figure 3 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration for replenishing toner from the toner cartridge 70 to the developing unit 50.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming device 1 has an image forming device main body (hereinafter, device main body) 1A and toner cartridges 70y, 70m, 70c, and 70k that are detachable from the device main body 1A. The device main body 1A in this embodiment is the portion of the image forming device 1 excluding the toner cartridges 70y, 70m, 70c, and 70k.

The main body 1A of the image forming apparatus 1 has an electrophotographic photosensitive member (hereinafter, photosensitive drum) 2 having a drum shape (cylindrical shape) as an image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image. Around the photosensitive drum 2, a charging roller 3, a scanner 4 as an exposure device, and a cleaning unit 6 are arranged.

The charging roller 3 is an example of a charging means or charging unit for uniformly charging the photosensitive drum 2. The scanner 4 is an example of an exposure means or exposure unit for irradiating the photosensitive drum 2 with laser light corresponding to image information to expose the photosensitive drum 2. By irradiating the charged photosensitive drum 2 with laser light, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2. The cleaning unit 6 is an example of a cleaning means or cleaning section for removing toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2.

The device main body 1A further includes a sheet storage section 300, a pickup roller 310, a feed roller 311, a separation roller 312, a pair of transport rollers 320, a secondary transfer roller 12, a fixing device 40, and an intermediate transfer unit 10. The pickup roller 310 is an example of a feeding means or a feeding unit that feeds the sheet S. The feed roller 311 and the separation roller 312 are an example of a separation transport unit that separates and transports the sheets S one by one by frictional force. The secondary transfer roller 12 is an example of a transfer means or a transfer unit that transfers an image from the intermediate transfer belt 10a to the sheet S.

The intermediate transfer unit 10 has an intermediate transfer belt 10a, a belt drive roller 10b, a tension roller 10c, a cleaning device 13, and a primary transfer roller 11. The intermediate transfer belt 10a is an example of an intermediate transfer body that carries an image transferred (primary transfer) from the photosensitive drum 2 and transports it for transfer (secondary transfer) to a sheet S. The intermediate transfer belt 10a is stretched over the belt drive roller 10b and the tension roller 10c. The belt drive roller 10b is a drive member that is rotated and driven by a drive source to transport the intermediate transfer belt 10a.

The device main body 1A also has a rotary body (rotary, rotating body, developing device) 90 having developing units 50y, 50m, 50c, and 50k. As described below, in this embodiment, trays (support members) 80y, 80m, 80c, and 80k are attached to the rotary body 90. Toner cartridges 70y, 70m, 70c, and 70k are removably attached to the trays 80y, 80m, 80c, and 80k.

In the following description, multiple components with similar functions can be distinguished by assigning numbers. For example, one of the toner cartridges 70y, 70m, 70c, and 70k can be called the first toner cartridge, one of the remaining three can be called the second toner cartridge, one of the remaining two can be called the third toner cartridge, and the last one can be called the fourth toner cartridge. Similarly, one of the trays 80y, 80m, 80c, and 80k can be called the first tray, one of the remaining three can be called the second tray, one of the remaining two can be called the third tray, and the last one can be called the fourth tray. In other words, one of the trays 80y to 80k is an example of a first support member, another of the trays 80y to 80k is an example of a second support member, yet another of the trays 80y to 80k is an example of a third support member, and the last one of the trays 80y to 80k is an example of a fourth support member. These numberings are used merely for convenience in the description, and in principle can be interchanged as appropriate.

The developing units (first to fourth developing units) 50y, 50m, 50c, and 50k are examples of developing means or developing sections that develop (visualize) the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 2 into a toner image using toner of the corresponding color. The developing units 50y, 50m, 50c, and 50k develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 2 using yellow toner, magenta toner, cyan toner, and black toner, respectively. The developing units 50y, 50m, 50c, and 50k may be arranged in an order different from that shown in FIG. 1.

The developing unit 50y has a developing roller 51y, a supply roller 52y, and a developing blade. The developing roller 51y is a developer carrier that carries toner as a developer and rotates to supply it to the photosensitive drum 2. The supply roller 52y is a supply member that is arranged in contact with the developing roller 51y and supplies toner to the developing roller 51. The developing blade is a regulating member that regulates the thickness of the toner layer carried by the developing roller 51y. The other developing units 50m, 50c, and 50k also have similar developing rollers 51m, 51c, and 51k, supply rollers 52m, 52c, and 52k, and developing blades.

The rotary body 90 is fitted with toner cartridges 70y, 70m, 70c, and 70k corresponding to the developing units 50y, 50m, 50c, and 50k. The toner cartridges 70y, 70m, 70c, and 70k contain yellow toner, magenta toner, cyan toner, and black toner, respectively, as toner to be replenished to the developing units 50y, 50m, 50c, and 50k. One of the four toner colors can be called the first toner, one of the remaining three toner colors can be called the second toner, one of the remaining two toner colors can be called the third toner, and the last toner can be called the fourth toner. For example, black toner can be called an example of the first toner, and magenta toner can be called an example of the second toner. These numberings are used merely for convenience in the explanation, and in principle can be interchanged as appropriate.

Here, the rotary body 90 has a rotary frame 90f that supports the developing units 50y, 50m, 50c, and 50k. The developing units 50y, 50m, 50c, and 50k are supported by the rotary frame 90f, which is a rotatable support body.

Trays 80y, 80m, 80c, and 80k are attached to the rotary body 90. The combination of the rotary body 90 and the trays 80y, 80m, 80c, and 80k can be called the rotary unit 90U. In other words, the rotary unit 90U has the rotary body 90 and the trays 80y, 80m, 80c, and 80k.

The toner cartridges 70y to 70k are detachably held in the trays 80y to 80k. As will be described later, the trays 80y to 80k are supported so as to be slidable to the outside of the rotary body 90. The combination of the rotary unit 90U and the toner cartridges 70y, 70m, 70c, and 70k can be called the rotary assembly 90A. In other words,
The rotary assembly 90A includes a rotary unit 90U and toner cartridges 70y, 70m, 70c, and 70k.

As described below, the rotary body 90 can rotate around a rotation axis (center of rotation) 90C. The rotation axis 90C coincides with the rotation axes of the rotary frame 90f, the rotary unit 90U, and the rotary assembly 90A. The rotation axis 90C is also substantially parallel to the rotation axis (center of rotation) of the photosensitive drum 2.

The rotary body 90 can rotate around the rotation axis 90C to take a developing posture in which any one of the developing rollers 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k faces the photosensitive drum 2. The posture in which the developing roller 51y faces the photosensitive drum 2 is called the yellow developing posture. The posture in which the developing roller 51m faces the photosensitive drum 2 is called the magenta developing posture. The posture in which the developing roller 51c faces the photosensitive drum 2 is called the cyan developing posture. The posture in which the developing roller 51k faces the photosensitive drum 2 is called the black developing posture. In other words, the rotary body 90 can rotate around the rotation axis 90C so that the positions of the developing rollers 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k relative to the photosensitive drum 2 change. The black developing posture is an example of the first developing posture in which the first developing roller (developing roller 51k) faces the photosensitive drum 2. The other developing positions are examples of the second developing position in which the second developing roller (developing rollers 51y to 51c) faces the photosensitive drum 2. The yellow/magenta/cyan/black developing positions can also be called the first to fourth developing positions. These numberings are used merely for convenience in the explanation, and in principle can be interchanged as appropriate.

As shown in FIG. 2, the device main body 1A has motors M1, M2, and M3 as drive sources. As described below, the motor M1 supplies a drive force for rotating the rotary body 90 around the rotation axis 90C. In other words, the motor M1 rotates the rotary assembly 90A and the rotary unit 90U around the rotation axis 90C.

The device main body 1A also has a drive device 98 including a motor M2 and a transmission device. The transmission device includes drive racks 15L, 15R and a transmission unit 15t as drive gears described below. The driving force of the motor M2 is transmitted to the drive racks 15L, 15R by the transmission unit 15t. In other words, the motor M2 is configured to drive the drive racks 15L, 15R, and moves the trays 80y, 80m, 80c, and 80k relative to the rotary body 90 via the drive racks 15L and 15R.

Motor M3 drives components other than those driven by motors M1 and M2. For example, motor M3 drives photosensitive drum 2, developing units 50y, 50m, 50c, and 50k, pickup roller 310, feed roller 311, conveying roller pair 320, secondary transfer roller 12, belt drive roller 10b, and fixing device 40.

The members driven by motors M1, M2, and M3 can be changed as appropriate. Also, the functions of any two or all three of motors M1, M2, and M3 can be combined into one motor. On the other hand, drive sources other than motors M1, M2, and M3 may be added.

The suffixes y, m, c, and k attached to the developing units 50y, 50m, 50c, and 50k, the toner cartridges 70y, 70m, 70c, and 70k, and the trays 80y, 80m, 80c, and 80k indicate the color of the toner. The developing units 50y, 50m, 50c, and 50k have the same basic configuration and function. The toner cartridges 70y, 70m, 70c, and 70k have the same basic configuration and function. The trays 80y, 80m, 80c, and 80k also have the same basic configuration and function. Therefore, when there is no need to distinguish between them, the suffixes y, m, c, and k are omitted, and the description will be given assuming that the unit is any one of the four units, cartridges, and trays.

As shown in FIG. 3, the toner cartridge 70 has a toner frame 71. The toner frame 71 has a toner storage section 71a that stores toner, and a discharge opening 71b that communicates with the toner storage section 71a.

The developing unit 50 has a developing frame (storage frame) 53. The developing frame 53 has a developing side storage section 53a and a receiving opening 53b that communicates with the developing side storage section (toner supply chamber) 53a. As mentioned above, the developing unit 50 has a developing roller 51, a supply roller 52, etc., but these members are omitted in Figure 3.

The developing roller 51k of the developing unit 50k is an example of a first developing roller. The developing roller 51m of the developing unit 50m is an example of a second developing roller. The developing frame 53k (FIG. 4(a)) of the developing unit 50k with the developing side storage portion 53a is an example of a first storage frame with a first storage portion. The developing frame 53m (FIG. 4(a)) of the developing unit 50m with the developing side storage portion 53a is an example of a second storage frame with a second storage portion. The rotary body 90 is an example of a rotatable rotary having a first developing roller, a second developing roller, a first storage frame with a first storage portion, and a second storage frame with a second storage portion. In this embodiment, the rotary body 90 has the first to fourth developing rollers and the first to fourth storage frames.

As described below, the toner cartridge 70 can be moved to an attached position and a retracted position retracted from the attached position relative to the developing frame 53. When the toner cartridge 70 is in the attached position relative to the developing frame 53, the discharge opening 71b faces the receiving opening 53b. In other words, the toner storage section 71a of the toner cartridge 70 and the developing side storage section 53a of the developing unit 50 communicate with each other via the discharge opening 71b and the receiving opening 53b. When toner is supplied from the toner cartridge 70 to the developing unit 50, at least a portion of the receiving opening 53b is positioned below at least a portion of the discharge opening 71b.

The toner contained in the toner container 71a is discharged from the discharge opening 71b, and the toner discharged from the discharge opening 71b is received in the development side container 53a through the receiving opening 53b. The toner contained in the development side container 53a is supplied to the development roller 51 by the supply roller 52. The toner contained in the toner container 71a is supplied to the development roller 51 through this route.

It is desirable that the toner cartridge 70 has a sealing member (first sealing member) (not shown) that covers the discharge opening 71b. It is also desirable that the development unit 50 has a sealing member (second sealing member) (not shown) that covers the receiving opening 53b.

When the toner cartridge 70 is not attached to the developing unit 50, it is desirable that the discharge opening 71b and the receiving opening 53b are each covered with a sealing member so as to prevent toner from leaking out from the discharge opening 71b and the receiving opening 53b.

(Image forming operation)
The image forming operation in this embodiment will be described. First, the photosensitive drum 2 is rotated in the direction of the arrow (counterclockwise) in Fig. 1 in synchronization with the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 10a. Then, the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 is uniformly charged by the charging roller 3.

When a color image is formed on sheet S, the rotary body 90 rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 (clockwise) while supporting the developing units 50y, 50m, 50c, and 50k, as follows. Then, the electrophotographic process is repeated while the developing rollers 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k are moved one by one to the developing position.

First, the scanner 4 irradiates laser light based on image data corresponding to a yellow image, and forms an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the yellow image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2. In parallel with the formation of this electrostatic latent image, the motor M1 rotates the rotary body 90, and the rotary body 90 takes the yellow developing position. When the rotary body 90 takes the yellow developing position, the developing roller 51y is in the developing position, and develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 2 with yellow toner.

In this embodiment, each of the developing rollers 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k is an elastic roller with rubber coated around a metal shaft. At the development position, each of the developing rollers 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k develops an electrostatic latent image while in contact with the photosensitive drum 2. In other words, the image forming device 1 in this embodiment employs a contact development method. However, at the development position, each of the developing rollers 51y, 51m, 51c, and 51k may develop an electrostatic latent image while there is a gap between them and the photosensitive drum 2. In other words, the image forming device 1 may employ a non-contact development method.

Once the yellow toner image is developed, the yellow toner image on the photosensitive drum 2 is primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 10a by the primary transfer roller 11 arranged on the inside of the intermediate transfer belt 10a.

After this, the rotary body 90 is rotated to move the developing rollers 51m, 51c, and 51k to the developing positions in order, forming toner images of each color. That is, after a yellow toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 10a, the rotary body 90 takes a magenta developing position, and a magenta toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 10a. After a magenta toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 10a, the rotary body 90 takes a cyan developing position, and a cyan toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 10a. After a cyan toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 10a, the rotary body 90 takes a black developing position, and a black toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 10a. After a black toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 10a, the rotary body 90 rotates around the rotation axis 90C in the direction of the arrow (clockwise) shown in FIG. 1, and returns to the yellow developing position. Note that the color of the image formed first on the intermediate transfer belt 10a is arbitrary, and for example, a black toner image may be formed first.

Then, the primary transfer is repeated so that the four color toner images are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 10a, forming a color image on the intermediate transfer belt 10a. Note that the secondary transfer roller 12 and the cleaning device 13 are not in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 10a until the color image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 10a.

Meanwhile, the sheet S is fed by the pickup roller 310 from the sheet storage section 300 provided at the bottom of the device main body 1A. The sheet S is separated into individual sheets by the feed roller 311 and the separation roller 312 and then sent to the conveying roller pair 320. The conveying roller pair 320 sends the fed sheet S to the transfer section (secondary transfer section), which is the nip between the intermediate transfer belt 10a and the secondary transfer roller 12. The color image on the intermediate transfer belt 10a is transferred (secondary transfer) onto the surface of the conveyed sheet S.

The sheet S onto which the color image has been transferred is sent to the fixing device 40. In the fixing device 40, the sheet S is heated and pressurized, and the image is fixed onto the sheet S. After passing through the fixing device 40, the sheet S is discharged outside the image forming apparatus 1 as a finished product.

On the other hand, when forming a monochrome image on sheet S, the rotary body 90 takes the black development position. In this state, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 by charging and exposing the photosensitive drum 2, and then the electrostatic latent image is developed with black toner by the developing roller 51k located at the development position. The black toner image is primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 10a, and then secondarily transferred to sheet S. The subsequent process is the same as for color images.

(Rotary configuration)
The configuration of the rotary body 90 will be described with reference to Figures 1, 4(a, b) and 5. Figures 4(a, b) are cross-sectional views showing the rotary body 90 and its surroundings of the image forming apparatus 1. Figures 4(a, b) are cross-sectional views of the apparatus cut along an imaginary plane perpendicular to the rotation axis 90C of the rotary body 90. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the rotary body 90.

As mentioned above, the toner cartridges 70y to 70k are detachable from the rotary body 90. When the toner in the toner cartridges 70y to 70k runs out, the user can replenish toner in the image forming device 1 by replacing the toner cartridges 70y to 70k.

As shown in FIG. 1, the device main body 1A has a frame 16 that houses the rotary body 90. The frame 16 is the main body frame of the image forming device 1 in this embodiment. The frame 16 is the housing (body) of the device main body 1A that is composed of a frame and exterior members, and is approximately rectangular in shape in this embodiment.

The frame 16 has an opening 16a. More specifically, the frame 16 has a side 16b that extends in a direction intersecting the horizontal direction. The side 16b constitutes at least a part of the exterior surface on the +X side of the device main body 1A. The opening 16a is disposed on this side 16b. The side 16b is a side disposed downstream of the discharge port in the discharge direction in which the sheet S on which an image is formed is discharged from the discharge port of the device main body 1A. A user can access the sheet storage unit 300 from the side of the side 16b of the image forming device 1 to refill the sheet S or obtain the sheet S discharged from the discharge port. Therefore, the side 16b can be said to be the front (front face) of the device main body 1A.

Toner cartridges 70y, 70m, 70c, and 70k are detachable from the rotary body 90 through the opening 16a. In other words, toner cartridge 70k is an example of a first toner cartridge that contains toner to be supplied to the first developing roller (developing roller 51k) and is detachable from the rotary (rotary body 90) through the opening 16a of the frame 16 of the device main body 1A. Toner cartridge 70m is an example of a second toner cartridge that contains toner to be supplied to the second developing roller (developing roller 51m) and is detachable from the rotary (rotary body 90) through the opening 16a of the frame 16 of the device main body 1A.

In this embodiment, the toner cartridges 70y, 70m, 70c, and 70k are supported by the trays 80y to 80k and are attached to and detached from the rotary body 90 through the opening 16a. In other words, the user can attach and detach the toner cartridges 70y to 70k to and from the rotary body 90 via the trays 80y to 80k.

The opening 16a is disposed on the side surface 16b of the frame 16. In this embodiment, the side surface 16b is a surface that is approximately parallel to the rotation axis 90C of the rotary body 90. Therefore, when the toner cartridge 70 is replaced, the toner cartridge 70 passes through the opening 16a in a direction that intersects with (preferably perpendicular to) the rotation axis 90C.

The image forming device 1 has a door 14 that covers the opening 16a of the frame 16. The door 14 is an opening/closing member that can be moved between a closed position that covers the opening 16a (see also FIG. 6(a)) and an open position that exposes the opening 16a (see also FIG. 6(b) and FIG. 6(c)).

As described above, in this embodiment, the toner cartridge 70 is configured to be detachable from the rotary body 90 via the tray 80. This allows the toner cartridge 70 to be stably attached to and detached from the rotary body 90.

More specifically, the user can replace the toner cartridge 70 by inserting and removing the toner cartridge 70 into and from the tray 80, which is configured to be movable relative to the rotary body 90 (i.e., relative to the device main body 1A). In a configuration in which the user replaces the toner cartridge by directly inserting and removing the toner cartridge into and from the device main body, the user is required to insert the toner cartridge to a specified mounting position within the device main body. In this embodiment, the tray 80 is movable so that the toner cartridge 70 moves to the mounting position while supporting the toner cartridge 70. Therefore, the user can replace the toner cartridge 70 by simply placing the toner cartridge 70 on the tray 80, improving operability.

The toner cartridge 70 is elongated with the Y direction parallel to the rotation axis 90C of the rotary body 90 as the longitudinal direction. In other words, the longitudinal dimension of the toner cartridge 70 is greater than the height and width in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. When handling a toner cartridge 70 having such an elongated shape, the opening 16a is disposed on the side surface 16b of the frame 16 that is approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction (Y direction) of the toner cartridge 70, so that the toner cartridge 70 can pass through the opening 16a with a short moving distance. For example, the toner cartridge 70 can be easily replaced compared to inserting and removing the toner cartridge 70 through an opening provided on the side surface of either one side (+Y side or -Y side) of the frame 16 in the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge 70.

The rotary body 90 can rotate around the rotation axis 90C to take an exchange position in which any of the toner cartridges 70y to 70k can be removed from the rotary body 90. The position in which the toner cartridge 70y can be removed is called the yellow exchange position. The position in which the toner cartridge 70m can be removed is called the magenta exchange position. The position in which the toner cartridge 70c can be removed is called the cyan exchange position. The position in which the toner cartridge 70k can be removed is called the black exchange position. The black exchange position is an example of a first exchange position in which the first toner cartridge can be removed from the rotary body 90. The yellow/magenta/cyan exchange position is an example of a second exchange position in which the second toner cartridge can be removed from the rotary body 90. The yellow/magenta/cyan/black exchange positions can also be called the first to fourth exchange positions. These numberings are used merely for convenience in the explanation, and in principle can be interchanged as appropriate.

The rotary body 90 rotates around the rotation axis 90C in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1, and can take the yellow/magenta/cyan/black exchange positions in sequence. In this embodiment, the rotary body 90 rotates around the rotation axis 90C in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1, and alternates between the development position and the exchange position. For example, in FIG. 1, the rotary body 90 takes the black development position. From this state, by rotating the rotary body 90 clockwise, the position of the rotary body 90 is switched in the following order: cyan exchange position, yellow development position, black exchange position, magenta development position, yellow exchange position, cyan development position, magenta exchange position. By rotating the rotary body 90 clockwise from the magenta exchange position, the rotary body 90 returns to the black development position. In other words, the rotary body 90 can rotate clockwise one rotation (360°) or more.

Figure 4(a) shows a cross section of the rotary body 90 in the developing position (specifically, the yellow developing position). Figure 4(b) shows a cross section of the rotary body 90 in the replacement position (specifically, the black replacement position).

As shown in Figures 4(a and b), four trays 80y to 80k are attached to the rotary body 90. The trays 80y to 80k hold the toner cartridges 70y to 70k, respectively. In Figures 4(a and b), the trays 80y to 80k are housed inside the rotary body 90, which can be said to be the state in which the toner cartridges 70y to 70k are attached to the development units 50y, 50m, 50c, and 50k.

As described above, the toner cartridge 70 can be moved between an installed position and a retracted position relative to the developing frame 53 of the developing unit 50. That is, the first toner cartridge (toner cartridge 70k) can be moved between a first installed position and a first retracted position relative to the first storage frame (developing frame 53k). The second toner cartridge (toner cartridge 70m) can be moved between a second installed position and a second retracted position relative to the second storage frame (developing frame 53m).

When the toner cartridge 70 is in the mounting position relative to the developing frame 53, the discharge opening 71b and the receiving opening 53b face each other, as shown in FIG. 3. In this state, the toner cartridge 70 is configured to supply toner to the developing side storage section 53a through the receiving opening 53b (the opening in the storage frame).

The device main body 1A has a moving device 85 configured to move the toner cartridge 70 from an attached position to a retracted position relative to the rotary body 90 (more specifically, relative to the developing frame 53 of the developing unit 50). The moving device 85 will be described later using FIG. 8 and other figures. In this embodiment, the rotary body 90 is provided with a number of moving devices 85y-85k corresponding to the multiple toner cartridges 70y-70k. The trays 80y-80k can be considered to be part of these moving devices 85y-85k.

In this embodiment, the toner cartridge 70k containing black toner is larger in size than the toner cartridges 70y to 70c containing yellow toner, magenta toner, and cyan toner, and can contain more toner. In other words, the first toner cartridge can contain a first amount of toner, and the second toner cartridge can contain a second amount of toner, with the first amount being greater than the second amount.

Specifically, the length of the black toner cartridge 70k in the first radial direction relative to the rotation axis 90C of the rotary body 90 is greater than the length of the magenta toner cartridge 70m in the second radial direction. Here, the first radial direction is the rotation radius direction of the rotary body 90 (the radial direction of a virtual circle centered on the rotation axis 90C), and is the direction in which the toner cartridge 70k extends relative to the rotation axis 90C when viewed in the direction of the rotation axis 90C. The second radial direction is the rotation radius direction of the rotary body 90, and is the direction in which the toner cartridge 70m extends relative to the rotation axis 90C when viewed in the direction of the rotation axis 90C. Similarly, the length of the black toner cartridge 70k in the first radial direction is greater than the lengths of the toner cartridges 70y, 70c in the radial directions corresponding to the other toner cartridges 70y, 70c.

Therefore, the tray 80k that holds the black toner cartridge 70k is larger in size than the trays 80y to 80c that hold the other toner cartridges 70y, 70m, and 70c. That is, four toner cartridges 70y to 70k and trays 80y to 80k of different sizes are arranged in the rotary body 90. In other words, the rotary body 90 can detachably hold the toner cartridge 70k as an example of the first toner cartridge and the toner cartridge 70y as an example of the second toner cartridge that is smaller in size than the first toner cartridge. In accordance with this, the rotary body 90 is provided with a tray 80k as an example of the first support member that supports the first toner cartridge, and a tray 80y as an example of the second support member that is smaller in size than the first support member. In addition, the rotary body 90 can detachably hold the toner cartridges 70m and 70c as examples of the third and fourth toner cartridges that are smaller in size than the first toner cartridge. In accordance with this, the rotary body 90 is provided with trays 80m and 80c, which are examples of a third support member and a fourth support member that are smaller in size than the first support member.

Now, the rotary drive of the rotary body 90 will be described with reference to FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, disk gears 92L and 92R are formed on both ends of the rotary body 90. Rotary drive gears 93L and 93R are connected to both ends of the oscillating shaft 91 so as to be capable of transmitting drive. Here, the drive force of the motor M1 is transmitted to the rotary drive gear 93R by a drive transmission mechanism. Next, the drive force is transmitted to the disk gears 92L and 92R by the rotary drive gears 93L and 93R, thereby rotating the rotary body 90. The rotary body 90 rotates around the rotation axis 90C in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1.

The rotary body 90 is supported so that it can swing about a swing shaft 91. The rotary body 90 is urged in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 4(a, b) about the swing shaft 91 by a urging member (not shown). This direction can be said to be the direction in which each of the developing rollers 51y to 51k approaches the photosensitive drum 2. As a result, when the rotary body 90 is in the developing position, each of the developing rollers 51y to 51k abuts against the photosensitive drum 2.

As shown in FIG. 5, rotary cams 90eL and 90eR are provided at both ends of the rotary body 90. When the rotary body 90 rotates clockwise in FIG. 4(a, b) around the rotation axis 90C, the rotary cams 90eL and 90eR come into contact with a roller 96 (FIG. 4(a, b)) supported by the frame 16. Then, they move clockwise in FIG. 4(a) and FIG. 4(b) around the swing shaft 91. This direction can be said to be the direction in which each of the developing rollers 51y to 51k moves away from the photosensitive drum 2. This direction can also be said to be the direction in which the rotary body 90 approaches the opening 16a of the frame 16 and the door 14.

As a result, when the rotary body 90 rotates and switches from the development position to the replacement position, the rotary body 90 swings around the swing shaft 91. When the rotary body 90 is in the replacement position, the development roller 51 moves away from the photosensitive drum 2.

As shown in FIG. 4(b), in the black replacement position, the toner cartridge 70k stops at a position facing the opening 16a and door 14 provided in the side surface 16b of the device main body 1A. From this state, when the tray 80k is slid from the attachment position to the development unit 50k to the outside of the rotary main body 90, the user can replace the toner cartridge 70k.

(Toner cartridge replacement operation)
The toner cartridge replacement operation will be described with reference to Fig. 4(a), Fig. 6(a-c) and Fig. 7(a,b). Fig. 6(a-c) are external views of the device main body 1A. Fig. 7(a,b) are cross-sectional views of the rotary body 90 and its surroundings during toner cartridge replacement. Fig. 7(a,b) are cross-sectional views of the device taken on an imaginary plane perpendicular to the rotation axis 90C of the rotary body 90.

Figure 6(a) shows the appearance of the device main body 1A during image formation operation and in standby state. During image formation operation, the image forming device 1 performs a series of operations from feeding sheet S, forming an image on sheet S, and discharging the sheet S as a finished product. The standby state is a state in which the image forming device 1 is capable of starting image formation operation when it receives an image formation instruction (print instruction), and is waiting for an image formation instruction from the user. As shown in Figure 6(a), during image formation operation and in standby state, the door 14 is closed.

Figure 6(b) shows the appearance of the device main body 1A when replacing the toner cartridge. When replacing the toner cartridge, the door 14 is opened, and the tray 80 and toner cartridge 70 are moved to the outside of the device main body 1A.

The toner cartridge 70 can be moved between an installation position and a retracted position retracted from the installation position relative to the developing frame 53 of the developing unit 50. When the toner cartridge 70 is in the installation position relative to the developing frame 53, the discharge opening 71b and the receiving opening 53b face each other, as shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 4(a, b), the rotary body 90 is configured to rotate around the rotation axis 90C and take a development position or an exchange position when the toner cartridge 70 is in the installation position.

The toner cartridge replacement operation will now be described. First, the user instructs the control unit of the device main body 1A to perform a toner cartridge replacement operation. The instruction to perform a toner cartridge replacement operation is given, for example, by inputting the instruction via an operation panel (operation unit) provided on the device main body 1A.

When the control unit receives an instruction to replace a toner cartridge, the rotary body 90 rotates to the replacement posture for the toner cartridge 70 to be replaced (the toner cartridge 70 that has run out of toner) and stops. In other words, the control unit rotates the rotary body 90 to the replacement posture for the toner cartridge specified in the instruction to replace the toner cartridge (in FIG. 4B, the black replacement posture for replacing the black toner cartridge 70k). In the replacement posture, the tray 80 supporting the toner cartridge 70 instructed to be replaced faces the opening 16a of the frame 16 of the device main body 1A.

For example, the rotary body 90 in FIG. 4(a) is in a yellow developing position in which the yellow developing roller 51y faces the photosensitive drum 2. At this time, the black toner cartridge 70k and the tray 80k do not have to face the opening 16a and the door 14. In other words, the toner cartridge 70 and the tray 80 do not have to face the opening 16a and the door 14 when the rotary body 90 is in an exchange position other than the exchange position of the toner cartridge or in a developing position. Therefore, the opening 16a only needs to be large enough for each toner cartridge 70 to pass through individually. When the rotary body 90 rotates a predetermined angle clockwise from the yellow developing position, the black toner cartridge 70k and the tray 80k face the opening 16a and the door 14 as shown in FIG. 4(b).

Here, "the tray 80 faces the opening 16a" means that the tray 80 is positioned so that it can be moved to the outside of the device main body 1A through the opening 16a. In other words, when the tray 80 faces the opening 16a, the tray 80 is moved outward in the radial direction of the rotary body 90 by a moving mechanism described below, so that the tray 80 and the toner cartridge 70 supported by the tray 80 can protrude to the outside of the device main body 1A. In FIG. 4(a), none of the trays 80y to 80k face the opening 16a. In FIG. 4(b), only the black tray 80k faces the opening 16a, and the other trays 80y to 80c do not face the opening 16a.

When the rotary body 90 is positioned in the replacement position, the motor M2 moves the tray 80 supporting the toner cartridge 70 to be replaced toward the outside of the device body 1A. As a result, the toner cartridge 70 to be replaced moves from the mounting position to the retracted position relative to the rotary body 90. Also, as shown in Figures 6(b, c) and 7(a, b), the tray 80 and the toner cartridge 70 to be replaced supported by the tray 80 protrude to the outside of the device body 1A through the opening 16a.

More specifically, the tray 80 can be moved to a storage position and an ejection position relative to the rotary body 90. The storage position is a position where the tray 80 is stored within the rotary body 90. The ejection position is a position where the tray 80 protrudes outside the rotary body 90 and the toner cartridge 70 can be removed from the tray 80 (removal position, replaceable position). Examples of storage positions are the positions of each of the trays 80y to 80k in Figures 4(a, b). Examples of ejection positions are the positions of the tray 80 in Figures 6(b, c), the tray 80k in Figure 7(a), and the tray 80m in Figure 7(b).

When the tray 80 is in the storage position, the toner cartridge 70 attached to the tray 80 is in the mounting position. When the tray 80 is in the removal position, the toner cartridge 70 attached to the tray 80 is in the retracted position.

As shown in Fig. 7(a,b), the rotary body 90 has a protrusion 95 for holding the tray 80 in the storage position and the toner cartridge 70 in the mounting position. As shown in Fig. 8, the tray 80 is provided with a recess 87 that fits into the protrusion 95. Fig. 7(a,b) shows the protrusions 95k, 95m corresponding to the trays 80k, 80m, and Fig. 8 shows the recesses 87y, 87m of the trays 80y, 80m, but the protrusions 95 and recesses 87 are provided for each of the trays 80y to 80k. It is preferable that the protrusion 95 is biased in a direction that engages with the recess 87.

The convex portion 95 fits into the concave portion 87 of the tray 80, thereby locking the tray 80 to the rotary frame body 90f. This ensures that the tray 80 remains in the storage position even when the rotary body 90 rotates, preventing the toner cartridge 70 from moving from the installation position. When the tray 80 is moved between the storage position and the removal position by a moving device described below, the convex portion 95 is moved by the tray 80, and the convex portion 95 can be configured to disengage from the concave portion 87.

In this embodiment, the door 14 is supported rotatably relative to the device body 1A. As shown in FIG. 7(a), the door 14 is biased from the open position toward the closed position by a spring 14s. The spring 14s is, for example, a tension spring, and biases the door 14 so as to generate a moment in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 7(a,b) about the support shaft 14c of the door 14.

When the tray 80 pushes the door 14, the door 14 is in an open state (the state shown in FIG. 6(b)). This state can also be said to be a state in which the tray 80 is supported by the door 14. The door 14 supports at least a portion of the tray 80 that protrudes outside the device main body 1A, so that the toner cartridge 70 can be supported more stably. In other words, when the first toner cartridge (toner cartridge 70k) is in the first retracted position, the opening/closing member (door 14) in the open position supports the first support member (tray 80k). Also, when the second toner cartridge (toner cartridges 70y to 70c) is in the second retracted position, the opening/closing member (door 14) in the open position supports the second support member (tray 80y to 80c).

In addition, when in the open position, the door 14 abuts against a part of the frame 16 of the device body 1A (e.g., the lower edge 16c of the opening 16a) and is configured not to rotate downward beyond the open position. When the tray 80 is pulled back from the outside to the inside of the device body 1A, the door 14 returns to the closed position due to the biasing force of the spring 14s.

The toner cartridge 70 is removably held in the tray 80. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6(c), the user can remove the toner cartridge 70 from the tray 80 and install a new toner cartridge 70 (replacement work). When replacing multiple toner cartridges 70, the replacement work can be performed by repeating the above steps.

Figures 7(a and 7(b) show a cross section of the rotary body 90 and its surroundings when replacing the toner cartridge. Figure 7(a) shows the state when replacing the black toner cartridge 70k. Figure 7(b) shows the state when replacing the magenta toner cartridge 70m.

The image forming apparatus 1 is equipped with a moving device 85 (Figure 8) that moves the toner cartridge 70 from the mounting position to the retracted position. In this embodiment, the moving device 85 can be said to include a tray 80. The moving device 85k including the tray 80k can be said to be an example of a first moving device including a first support member. The moving device 85m including the tray 80m can be said to be an example of a second moving device including a second support member.

Even when the toner cartridge 70 is in the retracted position, the tray 80 remains connected to the rotary body 90 (supported by the rotary body 90). To easily remove the toner cartridge 70 from the rotary body 90, it is preferable that the toner cartridge 70 protrudes long from the rotary body 90 when in the retracted position. Since the toner cartridge 70 is configured to be detachable from the rotary body 90 via the tray 80, the toner cartridge 70 can be stably supported by the tray 80 even when the toner cartridge 70 protrudes long from the rotary body 90.

The direction in which the toner cartridge 70 moves from the mounting position to the retracted position is called the retraction direction. In this embodiment, the retraction direction of the toner cartridge 70 is a direction that intersects with the direction of the rotation axis 90C (Y direction). Therefore, as shown in Figures 7(a) and 7(b), when viewed in the direction of the rotation axis 90C (Y direction), the retraction direction of the toner cartridge 70 is a direction perpendicular to the direction of the rotation axis 90C (Y direction). In addition, the retraction direction of the toner cartridge 70 can be said to be a direction toward the outside in the rotation radius direction of the rotary body 90 (a direction away from the rotation axis 90C).

As shown in Figures 7(a and b), when the user removes the toner cartridge 70 from the rotary body 90, it is preferable that at least a portion of the toner cartridge 70 protrudes from the rotary body 90 when the toner cartridge 70 is removed. In this embodiment, when the toner cartridge 70 is in the retracted position, the entire toner cartridge 70 protrudes from the rotary body 90.

When the rotary body 90 rotates around the rotation axis 90C, the rotation trajectory of the rotary body 90 can be said to coincide with the circumscribing circle of the rotary body 90 centered on the rotation axis 90C (the imaginary circle 90V shown by the dashed line in Figure 7 (a, b)). When the toner cartridge 70 is in the retracted position, it is preferable that more than half of the length of the toner cartridge 70 in the retracted direction is outside the rotation trajectory of the rotary body 90. In other words, when viewed in the direction of the rotary's rotation axis, it is preferable that, with the toner cartridge in the retracted position, more than half of the total length of the toner cartridge is located outside the rotation trajectory of the rotary in the moving direction of the toner cartridge from the mounting position to the retracted position. This applies to each toner cartridge 70, including the toner cartridge 70k as an example of the first cartridge and the toner cartridge 70m as an example of the second cartridge. In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 7(a and 7(b) ), when the toner cartridge 70 is in the retracted position, the entire toner cartridge 70 is outside the rotation trajectory (imaginary circle 90V) of the rotary body 90.

Furthermore, in order to make it easier for the user to grasp the toner cartridge 70, it is preferable that at least a portion of the toner cartridge 70 is outside the image forming device 1 (outside the device main body 1A) when the toner cartridge 70 is in the retracted position. Here, "outside the device" refers to the space outside the image forming device 1 (outside the device main body 1A) when the image forming device 1 is being used, for example, for forming an image on a sheet S.

In this embodiment, the exterior surface of the device main body 1A is formed by the exterior surface of the frame body 16. In other words, outside the machine can also be said to be the outside of the frame body 16. Therefore, a state in which at least a part of the toner cartridge 70 is outside the machine can also be said to be a state in which at least a part of the toner cartridge 70 protrudes from the opening 16a of the frame body 16 of the device main body 1A toward the outside of the frame body 16.

In this embodiment, when the door 14 is in the closed position, the opening 16a of the frame 16 of the device main body 1A is covered by the door 14. The exterior surface 14a of the door 14 in the closed position forms part of the exterior surface of the device main body 1A. In this case, the outside of the machine refers to the outside of the exterior surface 14a of the door 14 in the closed position. In other words, if the position of the exterior surface 14a of the door 14 in the closed position is taken as the exterior position, then when the toner cartridge 70 is in the retracted position, at least a part of the toner cartridge 70 is located outside the device main body 1A beyond this exterior position.

In other words, if the door 14 were in the closed position, at least a portion of the toner cartridge 70 would be located in the space outside the device main body 1A. In addition, in the retraction direction of the toner cartridge 70, at least a portion of the toner cartridge 70 is located downstream of the external position.

In addition, when the toner cartridge 70 is in the retracted position, with the side surface 16b on which the opening 16a is provided being the front surface of the device main body 1A, at least a portion of the toner cartridge 70 can be said to protrude forward from the external surface on the front side of the device main body 1A. In this case, the user can easily access the toner cartridge 70 from the front side of the image forming device and replace the toner cartridge 70.

When the toner cartridge 70 is in the retracted position, it is preferable that more than half of the length of the toner cartridge 70 in the retracted direction is outside the machine. In other words, when viewed in the direction of the rotary axis of rotation, it is preferable that more than half of the overall length of the toner cartridge is located outside the main body frame in the moving direction of the toner cartridge from the mounting position toward the retracted position when the toner cartridge is in the retracted position. This applies to each toner cartridge 70, including the toner cartridge 70k as an example of the first cartridge and the toner cartridge 70m as an example of the second cartridge. It is also more preferable that the entire toner cartridge 70 is outside the machine when the toner cartridge 70 is in the retracted position. In this embodiment, the exterior surface of the front side of the device main body 1A is formed by the exterior surface 14a and the side surface 16b of the door 14, but the configuration of the door 14 is not limited to this. For example, the size of the door 14 may be set to a size that covers the entire side surface 16b. In this case, the exterior surface of the front side of the device main body 1A is formed by the exterior surface 14a of the door 14.

The tray 80 has a cartridge holding portion 81 (see Figures 3 and 6(c)) that holds the toner cartridge 70. The cartridge holding portion 81 is the mounting portion onto which the toner cartridge 70 is mounted. When the tray 80 is in the removal position, it is preferable that the entire cartridge holding portion 81 is outside the rotation path of the rotary body 90 in the retraction direction. When the tray 80 is in the removal position, it is preferable that more than half the length of the cartridge holding portion 81 is outside the machine in the retraction direction.

As mentioned above, the toner cartridge 70k and the tray 80k are larger in size than the other toner cartridges 70y to 70c and trays 80y to 80c. Therefore, as shown in Figures 7(a and 7(b)), in this embodiment, the amount of movement of the tray 80 when replacing the toner cartridge is changed according to the size of the toner cartridge 70.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7A, the movement distance of the tray 80k (first support member) when it moves from the storage position (first storage position) to the removal position (first removal position) is L1. The movement distance of the tray 80m (second support member) when it moves from the storage position to the removal position (third removal position) is L2. FIG. 7B shows the state in which the toner cartridge 70m and the tray 80m have moved, but the movement distance of the trays 80y and 80c when they move from the storage position to the removal position is also L2. At this time, L1 is greater than L2. In other words, the movement distance of the first support member when the first toner cartridge moves from the first mounting position to the first retracted position is longer than the movement distance of the second support member when the second toner cartridge moves from the second mounting position to the second retracted position.

Also, as shown in FIG. 7(a), when the tray 80k is in the removal position and the toner cartridge 70k is in the retracted position, the toner cartridge 70k protrudes a distance P1 from the exterior surface of the device main body 1A to the outside of the device. In this embodiment, the tray 80k also protrudes a distance P1 from the exterior surface of the device main body 1A to the outside of the device.

Also, as shown in FIG. 7(b), when the tray 80m is in the removal position and the toner cartridge 70m is in the retracted position, the toner cartridge 70m protrudes a distance P2 from the exterior surface of the device main body 1A to the outside of the machine. In this embodiment, the tray 80m also protrudes a distance P2 from the exterior surface of the device main body 1A to the outside of the machine. Note that the toner cartridges 70y and 70c also protrude a distance P2 from the exterior surface of the device main body 1A to the outside of the machine.

The above distance P1 is greater than the distance P2. In other words, the length by which the first toner cartridge in the first retracted position protrudes from the opening 16a of the device main body 1A is the first length (P1), and the length by which the second toner cartridge in the second retracted position protrudes from the opening 16a is the second length (P2). In this case, it can be said that the first length is greater than the second length.

For toner cartridges 70y-70c, which are smaller in size than toner cartridge 70k, it is preferable in terms of strength to make the distance P2 by which they protrude outside the machine in the retracted position shorter than the distance P1 by which toner cartridge 70k protrudes outside the machine in the retracted position. This is for the following reason. When toner cartridge 70 is located in the retracted position, at least a part of toner cartridge 70 protrudes outside the machine outside the rotation trajectory of rotary body 90 or from the external surface of device main body 1A. At this time, tray 80 supports the weight of toner cartridge 70 while being supported by rotary body 90 at one end. Therefore, shortening the distance P2 by which toner cartridges 70y-70c protrude outside the machine in the retracted position can reduce the load applied to trays 80y-80c and the guide portion 97 of rotary body 90 that supports trays 80y-80k. In addition, because the toner cartridges 70y-70c are smaller in size than the toner cartridge 70k, the ease of replacing cartridges in the trays 80y-80c can be maintained even if the distance P2 is made shorter than the distance P1.

(Tray arrangement in the rotary)
The arrangement of the trays 80y to 80k in the rotary body 90 will be described with reference to Figures 8, 9, and 10. Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of the trays 80y to 80k in the rotary body 90. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the arrangement of the trays 80y to 80k in the rotary body 90. Figure 10 is a view showing the arrangement of members at one end side of the trays 80y to 80k in the Y direction. Note that Figure 9 shows a cut surface of the rotary body 90 in a virtual plane perpendicular to the rotation axis 90C of the rotary body 90. The upper half of Figure 10 is a view of the rotary body 90 and the trays 80m and 80k in Figure 8 as seen from the upper right side (+Z side) of Figure 8, and the lower half of Figure 10 is a view of the rotary body 90 and the trays 80c and 80y in Figure 8 as seen from the left side (-X side) of Figure 8.

As shown in FIG. 8, each of the trays 80y to 80k is provided with a cartridge holding portion 81y to 81k and a guided portion 82y to 82k.

The toner cartridges 70y to 70k are attached to the cartridge holders 81y to 81k, respectively. Each of the cartridge holders 81y to 81k accommodates at least a portion of the toner cartridges 70y to 70k attached thereto.

The guided portions 82y to 82k are provided at both ends of the trays 80y to 80k, sandwiching the cartridge holding portions 81y to 81k in the Y direction. Each of the guided portions 82y to 82k is an elongated member that extends in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotary body 90.

In this embodiment, a reinforcing rib 82k1 is formed on a part of the guided portion 82k in the movement direction Dk of the tray 80k, and a reinforcing rib 82m1 is formed on a part of the guided portion 82m in the movement direction Dm of the tray 80m (see also Figures 11(a) and 11(b)). The reinforcing ribs 82k1 and 82m1 are rib shapes (protrusions) that protrude outward in the Y direction from the guided portions 82k and 82m provided at both ends of the trays 80k and 80m in the Y direction, and extend in the movement directions Dk and Dm of the trays 80k and 80m. The reinforcing ribs 82k1 and 82m1 improve the rigidity of the guided portions 82k and 82m.

In this embodiment, the length of the reinforcing ribs 82m1 and 82k1 is limited to avoid the guided portions 82y and 82c, but if there is no interference with the guided portions 82y and 82c, the reinforcing ribs 82m1 and 82k1 may be provided over the entire length of the guided portions 82m and 82k. Reinforcing ribs may be added to the guided portions 82y and 82c. Also, if the rigidity of the guided portions 82m and 82k is sufficient, the reinforcing ribs 82m1 and 82k1 may not be provided.

Rack portions 83y-83k (rack gears) are formed on the guided portions 82y-82k. Additionally, pinion gears 94y-94k are rotatably held within the rotary body 90. The pinion gears 94y-94k are engaged with the rack portions 83y-83k, respectively, so as to be capable of transmitting drive force.

The rack portions 83y-83k and the pinion gears 94y-94k are part of the moving devices 85y-85k that are configured to move the toner cartridges 70y-70k from the mounting position to the retracted position. The rack portions 83y-83k and the pinion gears 94y-94k can also be said to be part of a driven device that is driven by the drive device 98 of the device main body 1A. The pinion gears 94y-94k can be said to be rotating bodies (rotating members) that move the trays 80y-80k relative to the rotary body 90 by rotating.

The pinion gears 94y-94k and the rack portions 83y-83k function as driven parts that allow the moving devices 85y-85k of the rotary body 90 to receive driving force from the driving device 98 of the device body 1A. The pinion gear 94k and the rack portion 83k are an example of a first pinion gear and a first rack gear that constitute at least a part of the first driven part of the first moving device. The pinion gear 94m and the rack portion 83m are an example of a second pinion gear and a second rack gear that constitute at least a part of the second driven part of the second moving device.

The rotary body 90 has guide portions 97 (see Figures 7(a) and 7(b)) that engage with each of the guided portions 82y to 82k. Figure 7(a) shows guide portion 97 (97k) that engages with guided portion 82k of tray 80k, and Figure 7(b) shows guide portion 97 (97m) that engages with guided portion 82m of tray 80m. The rotary body 90 is provided with similar guide portions that engage with guided portions 82y and 82c of trays 80y and 80c. Also, although Figures 7(a and 7(b) show guide portion 97 provided on one side (+Y side) of the rotary body 90 in the Y direction, a similar guide portion 97 is also provided on the other side (-Y side) of the rotary body 90 in the Y direction.

When the tray 80 moves between the storage position and the removal position, the guide portion 97 maintains an engaged state with the guided portion 82 in at least a portion of the movement range, guiding the direction of movement of the tray 80. In this embodiment, the guide portion 97 maintains an engaged state with the guided portion 82k in the entire movement range between the storage position and the removal position of the tray 80k. Also, in this embodiment, the guide portion 97 maintains an engaged state with the guided portion 82m in the entire movement range between the storage position and the removal position of the tray 80m.

Also, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, four trays 80y to 80k are arranged inside the rotary body 90 so as to overlap each other, as will be described in detail below.

When the pinion gears 94y-94k rotate, the rack portions 83y-83k and the trays 80y-80k move relative to the rotary body 90. As shown in FIG. 9, the four trays 80y-80k are arranged so that their movement directions are rotated by 90 degrees each relative to the rotary body 90. Therefore, trays 80y and 80c, and trays 80m and 80k are each held so that they can slide in substantially the same direction (parallel directions). The direction of movement of each of the trays 80y-80k during sliding movement is regulated by the engagement between the guided portions 82y-82k and the guide portion 97 described above.

Trays 80y to 80k move outside the machine through opening 16a. When each of trays 80y to 80k moves outside the machine through opening 16a, the movement directions of each tray are substantially the same (parallel).

As shown in FIG. 9, the range in which tray 80k is positioned in the movement direction Dk of tray 80k overlaps with the range in which tray 80y is positioned and the range in which tray 80c is positioned. Also, the range in which tray 80k is positioned in the movement direction Dk of tray 80k overlaps with the rotation axis 90C of the rotary body 90. In other words, it can be said that the toner cartridge 70k held in the cartridge holding portion 81k of tray 80k overlaps with the rotation axis 90C of the rotary body 90 (FIG. 4(b)).

On the other hand, with respect to the movement direction Dm of tray 80m, the range in which tray 80m is positioned is shifted so as not to overlap with the range in which tray 80y is positioned and the range in which tray 80c is positioned. Furthermore, with respect to the movement direction Dy of tray 80y, the range in which tray 80y is positioned is shifted so as not to overlap with the range in which tray 80m is positioned and the range in which tray 80k is positioned. Similarly, with respect to the movement direction Dc of tray 80c, the range in which tray 80c is positioned is shifted so as not to overlap with the range in which tray 80m is positioned and the range in which tray 80k is positioned.

The positional relationship between the trays 80 can also be expressed as follows. When viewed in the movement direction Dy of tray 80y, tray 80y and tray 80k overlap, but tray 80y and tray 80m do not overlap. When viewed in the movement direction Dm of tray 80m, tray 80m and tray 80k overlap, but tray 80m and trays 80y and 80c do not overlap. When viewed in the movement direction Dc of tray 80c, tray 80c and tray 80k overlap, but tray 80c and tray 80m do not overlap.

Here, when two elements (components, parts, units, etc.) overlap when viewed in a particular direction, this means that when each element is projected perpendicularly onto an imaginary plane perpendicular to that direction, the projection area of one element at least partially overlaps with the projection area of the other element.

As shown in Figures 8 and 10, in the direction of the rotation axis 90C (Y direction), the range in which the rack portion 83m and the guided portion 82m are arranged and the range in which the rack portion 83k and the guided portion 82k are arranged at least partially overlap. In other words, in this embodiment, in the direction of the rotary's rotation axis (Y direction), the range in which the first rack gear (rack portion 83k) is arranged and the range in which the second rack gear (rack portion 83m) is arranged can be said to at least partially overlap. Therefore, compared to an arrangement in which the rack portion 83m and the guided portion 82m do not overlap with the rack portion 83k and the guided portion 82k, the rack portions 83m, 83k and the guided portions 82m, 82k can be arranged in a space-saving manner in the Y direction.

In the direction of the rotation axis 90C (Y direction), the range in which the rack portion 83y and the guided portion 82y are arranged at least partially overlaps with the range in which the rack portion 83c and the guided portion 82c are arranged. In other words, in this embodiment, in the direction of the rotary's rotation axis (Y direction), the range in which the third rack gear (rack portion 83y) is arranged at least partially overlaps with the range in which the fourth rack gear (rack portion 83c) is arranged. Therefore, compared to an arrangement in which the rack portion 83y and the guided portion 82y do not overlap with the rack portion 83c and the guided portion 82c, the rack portions 83y, 83c and the guided portions 82y, 82c can be arranged in a space-saving manner in the Y direction.

Here, the meshing position of the rack portion 83 with the pinion gear 94 will be described with reference to FIG. 10. The upper half of FIG. 10 shows the meshing position of the rack portion 83k with the pinion gear 94k. The lower half of FIG. 10 shows the meshing position of the rack portion 83y with the pinion gear 94y.

In the direction of the rotation axis 90C of the rotary body 90 (Y direction), in the area Y1 in the figure, the driving force transmitted from the motor M2 (Fig. 2) as a driving source by a transmission device described below is transmitted to the pinion gears 94y to 94k. In the area Y2 in the figure in the Y direction, the pinion gear 94k meshes with the rack portion 83k so as to be able to transmit the driving force. In the area Y3 in the figure in the Y direction, the pinion gear 94y meshes with the rack portion 83y so as to be able to transmit the driving force. Note that the rack portion 83m meshes with the pinion gear 94m (Fig. 8) in the area Y2, like the rack portion 83k, so as to be able to transmit the driving force. The rack portion 83c meshes with the pinion gear 94c (Fig. 8) in the area Y3, like the rack portion 83y, so as to be able to transmit the driving force.

Here, areas Y2 and Y3 are at different positions in the Y direction (are offset in the Y direction). Area Y1 is also at a different position in the Y direction from both areas Y2 and Y3. In other words, area Y1 is offset in the Y direction with respect to areas Y2 and Y3.

Furthermore, when the toner cartridges 70y and 70c are in the mounting position, the range in which the rack portion 83y is disposed overlaps at least partially with respect to the movement direction of the rack portion 83y (the movement direction Dy of the tray 80y). In this embodiment, since the movement directions Dy and Dc of the trays 80y and 80c are substantially the same direction (parallel), the range in which the rack portion 83y is disposed overlaps at least partially with respect to the movement direction Dc of the tray 80c. Therefore, when the toner cartridges 70y and 70c are in the mounting position, the tooth surface of the rack portion 83y and the tooth surface of the rack portion 83c face each other in the direction perpendicular to the movement directions Dy and Dc of the rack portions 83y and 83c (the left-right direction in FIG. 8).

Furthermore, when the toner cartridges 70m and 70k are in the mounting position, the range in which the rack section 83m is disposed overlaps at least partially with respect to the movement direction of the rack section 83m (the movement direction Dm of the tray 80m). In this embodiment, since the movement directions Dm and Dk of the trays 80m and 80k are substantially the same direction (parallel), the range in which the rack section 83m is disposed overlaps at least partially with respect to the movement direction Dk of the tray 80k. Therefore, when the toner cartridges 70m and 70k are in the mounting position, the tooth surface of the rack section 83m and the tooth surface of the rack section 83k face each other in the direction perpendicular to the movement directions Dm and Dk of the rack sections 83m and 83k (the up-down direction in FIG. 8).

Also, as shown in FIG. 12(a) described later, when viewed in the direction of the rotation axis 90C (Y direction), the rack portion 83y overlaps with the rack portion 83m and the rack portion 83k. When viewed in the direction of the rotation axis 90C (Y direction), the rack portion 83m overlaps with the rack portion 83y and the rack portion 83c. When viewed in the direction of the rotation axis 90C (Y direction), the rack portion 83c overlaps with the rack portion 83m and the rack portion 83k. When viewed in the direction of the rotation axis 90C (Y direction), the rack portion 83k overlaps with the rack portion 83y and the rack portion 83c. In other words, it can be said that the range in which the first rack gear (rack portion 83k) is arranged and the range in which the second rack gear (rack portion 83y) is arranged do not overlap in the direction of the rotation axis of the rotary (Y direction). In addition, when viewed in the direction of the rotary's rotation axis (Y direction), when the first toner cartridge 70k is in the first mounting position and the second toner cartridge 70y is in the second mounting position, the first rack gear (rack portion 83k) and the second rack gear (rack portion 83y) can be said to overlap.

In this way, since the positions at which rack sections 83k and 83m are arranged in the Y direction are different from the positions at which rack sections 83y and 83c are arranged, rack sections 83y and 83c can be arranged so that they overlap with rack sections 83m and 83k when viewed in the Y direction.

This saves space for the four trays in the rotary body 90, and makes it possible to reduce the size of the rotary body 90 in the direction of its rotation radius. In other words, if one were to arrange the rack sections 83 so that they do not overlap when viewed in the Y direction while keeping the movement distance of each tray 80y-80k the same as in this embodiment, the area required for arranging the four rack sections when viewed in the Y direction would be larger. Compared to this configuration, by arranging the multiple rack sections 83 with their positions shifted in the Y direction and making the rack sections 83 overlap when viewed in the Y direction, it is possible to reduce the arrangement area for the rack sections 83 when viewed in the Y direction.

In addition, in this embodiment, the four rack sections 83y to 83k are arranged in two sets of two, with their positions shifted in the Y direction. In other words, in the direction of the rotary's rotation axis (Y direction), the ranges in which the first rack gear and the second rack gear are arranged overlap, and the ranges in which the third rack gear and the fourth rack gear are arranged overlap. In addition, in the Y direction, the ranges in which the first rack gear and the second rack gear are arranged and the ranges in which the third rack gear and the fourth rack gear are arranged do not overlap. This makes it possible to reduce the size of the rotary body 90 in the Y direction compared to when each of the four rack sections 83y to 83k is shifted in the Y direction.

(Tray movement configuration)
The configuration related to the movement of the trays 80y to 80k arranged in the rotary body 90 will be described with reference to Figures 11(a, b) and 12(a, b). Figures 11(a, b) are perspective views showing the configuration related to the movement of the tray 80k. Figures 12(a, b) are cross-sectional views showing the configuration related to the movement of the tray 80k.

In this embodiment, the trays 80y to 80k are all driven by the driving force of the motor M2 transmitted to the pinion gears 94y to 94k by the drive racks 15L and 15R, which serve as a transmission device. Here, the configuration for moving the tray 80k relative to the rotary body 90 will be described, and the configuration for moving the trays 80y to 80c relative to the rotary body 90 will not be described as it is substantially similar to the configuration for moving the tray 80k.

Figure 11(a) shows the state in which the tray 80k is inside the rotary body 90 (i.e., the state in which the toner cartridge 70k is attached to the development unit 50k). In other words, Figure 11(a) shows the state in which the tray 80k is in the storage position, which corresponds to the state in which the toner cartridge 70k is in the installation position relative to the development frame 53k (Figure 4(a)). Figure 11(b) shows the state in which the tray 80k has been slid outside the rotary body 90. In other words, Figure 11(b) shows the state in which the tray 80k is in the removal position, which corresponds to the state in which the toner cartridge 70k is in the retracted position relative to the development frame 53k (Figure 4(b)).

The device body 1A of this embodiment has drive racks 15L and 15R as drive gears that drive the pinion gear 94. Each drive rack 15 is driven by a motor M2 via a drive transmission mechanism (not shown).

As mentioned above, two rack portions 83k are formed at both ends of the tray 80k in the Y direction. Two pinion gears 94k and two drive racks 15L and 15R are arranged at positions corresponding to the rack portions 83k at both ends. In other words, the device body 1A of this embodiment has drive racks 15L and 15R as the first drive gear and the second drive gear. It can be said that the drive rack 15L is an example of the first drive gear, and the drive rack 15R is an example of the second drive gear. However, these numberings are used merely for convenience in the explanation, and in principle can be interchanged as appropriate. When there is no need to distinguish between the drive racks 15L and 15R, they are referred to as "drive rack 15".

The rack portion 83 in this embodiment is configured as a rack gear pair, and the pinion gear 94 in this embodiment is configured as a pinion gear pair. In this embodiment, the rack gear pair and the pinion gear pair are arranged at one end side and the other end side of the support member (tray 80) in the Y direction, but they may be arranged at other positions. The rack portion 83k and the pinion gear 94k of the moving device 85k corresponding to the tray 80k can be said to be examples of the first rack gear pair and the first pinion gear pair, respectively. The rack portions 83y to 83c and the pinion gears 94y to 94c of the moving devices 85y to 85c corresponding to any of the other trays 80y to 80c can be said to be examples of the second rack gear pair and the second pinion gear pair, respectively.

One of the rack gear pair meshes with one of the pinion gear pair, and the other of the rack gear pair meshes with the other of the pinion gear pair. At least one of the pinion gear pair is driven by drive rack 15L, which serves as the first drive rack. In this embodiment, both of the pinion gear pair are driven simultaneously by drive racks 15L and 15R, which serve as the first and second drive racks. This makes it difficult for the tray 80 to rotate, allowing for stable movement of the toner cartridge 70.

The tray 80 may have one rack portion 83 and be moved by one drive rack 15 via one pinion gear 94.

The tray 80k is held so as to be slidable relative to the rotary body 90 in a direction parallel to the guided portion 82k (i.e., the movement direction Dk). The drive rack 15 is held so as to be slidable relative to the device body 1A in a direction intersecting the movement direction Dk of the tray 80k. The drive rack 15 is configured to slide (reciprocate) relative to the device body 1A in a first direction (vertically upward in this embodiment) and a second direction opposite to the first direction (vertically downward in this embodiment). In other words, the movement direction of the drive rack 15 in this embodiment is a direction intersecting (preferably perpendicular to) both the movement direction Dk of the tray 80k and the direction of the rotation axis 90C of the rotary body 90 (Y direction).

The tray movement operation for sliding the tray 80k between the storage position and the removal position will be described with reference to Figures 11(a) and 11(b). The tray movement operation of the tray 80k is performed by the motor M2 (Figure 2), a drive transmission mechanism (not shown), the drive rack 15, the pinion gear 94k, and the rack portion 83k.

First, the tray movement operation (tray pull-out operation) when removing the toner cartridge 70k from the rotary body 90 will be described. Before the tray pull-out operation is started, the drive rack 15 is positioned below the position where it meshes with the pinion gear 94k (FIG. 11(a)). Also, as described above, in the replacement operation of the toner cartridge 70k, the rotary body 90 takes the replacement posture of the toner cartridge 70k (FIG. 4(b)).

When the tray pull-out operation is started, the driving force of the motor M2 causes the driving rack 15 to slide upward in the device body 1A. As the driving rack 15 moves, it meshes with the pinion gear 94k, and the pinion gear 94k is rotated.

As shown in FIG. 11(b), when the pinion gear 94k is driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow in the figure, a driving force is input to the rack portion 83k that meshes with the pinion gear 94k. As a result, the tray 80k is pushed out of the machine and moves from the storage position to the removal position relative to the rotary body 90. The movement direction of the tray 80k at this time is guided in a predetermined movement direction Dk by the engagement between the guided portion 82k and the guide portion 97k (FIG. 7(a)) of the rotary body 90. As a result of the tray 80k moving from the storage position to the removal position, the toner cartridge 70k is moved from the mounting position to the retracted position relative to the development unit 50k.

When the tray 80k is in the removal position and the toner cartridge 70k is in the retracted position, the user can attach and detach the toner cartridge 70k to and from the tray 80k.

The tray movement operation (tray pull-in operation, tray insertion operation) when attaching the toner cartridge 70 to the rotary body 90 is performed in the reverse process to the tray pull-out operation. Before the tray pull-in operation is started, the drive rack 15 is located above the position where it meshes with the pinion gear 94k. For example, the tray pull-in operation is started by the user operating a specified operation unit. When the tray pull-in operation is started, the drive force of the motor M2 causes the drive rack 15 to slide downward in the device body 1A. Here, the rotation direction of the motor M2 in the tray pull-in operation is the opposite direction to the tray pull-out operation. As the drive rack 15 moves, it meshes with the pinion gear 94k, and the pinion gear 94k is driven to rotate.

When the pinion gear 94k is driven to rotate in the direction opposite to the arrow in FIG. 11(b), a driving force is input to the rack portion 83k that meshes with the pinion gear 94k. As a result, the tray 80k is pulled into the machine and moves from the removal position to the storage position relative to the rotary body 90. The movement direction of the tray 80k is guided in the movement direction Dk (the opposite direction to the arrow in FIG. 11(b)) by the engagement between the guided portion 82k and the guide portion 97k (FIG. 7(a)) of the rotary body 90. As a result of the tray 80k moving from the removal position to the storage position, the toner cartridge 70k is moved from the retracted position to the attached position relative to the developing unit 50k.

The movement of the black tray 80k and toner cartridge 70k has been explained above, but the movement of the other trays 80y-80c and toner cartridges 70y-70c is also performed by a similar mechanism. In other words, when each toner cartridge is in the replacement position, the drive rack 15 transmits drive to the pinion gears 94y-94c.

The motor M2 provided in the device main body 1A, the drive rack 15 (15L, 15R), and the transmission device including the drive transmission mechanism constitute a drive device 98 for driving the moving device 85 provided in the rotary body 90.

As described above, in this embodiment, multiple moving devices 85k-85y corresponding to multiple toner cartridges 70k-70y are arranged on the rotary body 90. The drive device 98 of the device body 1A is a common drive device that drives the multiple moving devices 85k-85y (multiple driven devices) of the rotary body 90.

In addition, in this embodiment, the drive target of the drive unit 98 is switched by the rotation of the rotary body 90. In other words, the drive unit of this embodiment has a drive rack 15 as a transmission member that transmits the driving force of the drive source. The drive unit can be in a state where the transmission member is engaged with the first driven part (pinion gear 94k) so as to be able to transmit drive, and a state where the transmission member is engaged with the second driven part (pinion gear 94m) so as to be able to transmit drive. In addition, the drive unit can be in a state where the transmission member is disengaged from the first driven part and the second driven part.

As described above, the pinion gears 94y to 94k are held by the rotary body 90. Therefore, when the rotary body 90 rotates, it is preferable that the pinion gears 94y to 94k are disengaged from the drive rack 15.

Figure 12(a) shows the state in which the tray 80k is inside the rotary body 90 (in the storage position). Figure 12(b) shows the state in which the tray 80k has moved outside the rotary body 90 (in the removal position).

As shown in FIG. 12(a), when the tray 80k is inside the rotary body 90, the drive rack 15 is located at the bottom inside the device body 1A. At this time, the drive rack 15 is retracted from the pinion gear 94k. Therefore, the drive rack 15 does not interfere with the rotation of the rotary body 90, and the drive rack 15 can be retracted outside the rotation trajectory of the rotary body 90 shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 12(a) and FIG. 12(b).

As described above, by driving motor M2 to rotate in the forward and reverse directions, the tray 80 attached to the rotary body 90 can be moved from the storage position to the removal position and from the removal position to the storage position relative to the rotary body 90. In other words, the drive device of this embodiment can not only drive each moving device of the rotary so that the toner cartridge moves from the mounting position to the retracted position, but also drive each moving device so that the toner cartridge moves from the retracted position to the mounting position.

As described above, in this embodiment, the amount of movement of the tray 80 when replacing the toner cartridge is changed according to the size of the toner cartridge 70. Specifically, as shown in Figures 7(a and 7(b)), the movement distance L1 when the black tray 80k moves from the storage position to the removal position is longer than the movement distance L2 when the other trays 80y to 80c move from the storage position to the removal position.

Therefore, in this embodiment, when the toner cartridges 70y to 70k are moved from the mounting position to the retracted position, the value obtained by dividing the speed of the rack portion 83k by the speed of the drive rack 15 is greater than the value obtained by dividing the speed of the rack portions 83y to 83c by the speed of the drive rack 15.

For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the pinion gear 94y is a stepped gear, and the pitch radius of the small diameter gear 942 meshing with the rack portion 83y is made smaller than the pitch radius of the large diameter gear 941 meshing with the drive rack 15. The pinion gears 94m and 94c are also stepped gears. On the other hand, the pinion gear 94k has the same pitch radius at the portion meshing with the drive rack 15 and the portion meshing with the rack portion 83k. At this time, the pitch radius of the pinion gear 94k can be made the same as the pitch radius of the large diameter gear 941 of the pinion gears 94y to 94c. With this configuration, even if the moving distance of the drive rack 15 is the same, the moving distance of the rack portion 83k can be made larger than the moving distance of the other rack portions 83y to 83c. In other words, the moving distance L1 when the black tray 80k moves from the storage position to the removal position can be made longer than the moving distance L2 when the other trays 80y to 80c move from the storage position to the removal position.

In addition, by making the pinion gears 94y to 94c into stepped gears, the pinion gears 94y to 94k are configured to receive driving force from the same drive rack 15, but the travel distance L1 of the tray 80k can be made greater than the travel distance L2 of the other trays 80y to 80c.

In addition, instead of (or in combination with) the pinion gears 94y to 94c being stepped gears, the pinion gear 94k may be a stepped gear. In this case, the portion of the pinion gear 94k that meshes with the drive rack 15 may be a small diameter gear, and the portion of the pinion gear 94k that meshes with the rack portion 83k may be a large diameter gear with a larger pitch circle radius than the small diameter gear. The stepped gear is also an example of a speed reduction mechanism, and may be replaced with a known speed reduction mechanism that makes the amount of movement of a member on the input side (drive source side) smaller than the amount of movement of a member on the output side (tray 80 side).

In addition, the amount of movement of the drive rack 15 when the toner cartridge 70k is moved from the mounting position to the retracted position may be greater than the amount of movement of the drive rack 15 when the toner cartridges 70y to 70c are moved from the mounting position to the retracted position.

However, the shorter the distance that the toner cartridge 70 moves from the mounting position to the retracted position, the shorter the time it takes for the toner cartridge 70 to move, and the shorter the time the user has to wait for the toner cartridge 70 to move. As described above, if the amount of movement of the drive rack 15 relative to the toner cartridge 70k is greater than the amount of movement of the drive rack 15 relative to the toner cartridges 70y to 70c, the time the user has to wait for the toner cartridges 70y to 70c to move can be shortened.

The above configuration allows the travel distance L1 to be longer than the travel distance L2. These configurations can also be used in combination.

(Modification)
Although a configuration has been described in which the driven part has a pinion gear 94 that meshes with both the driving rack 15 and the rack portion 83, the driven part may have a gear that meshes with the driving rack 15 and a gear that meshes with the rack portion 83.

The configuration of the moving device 85 that moves the tray 80 is not limited to the so-called rack and pinion configuration. For example, the member corresponding to the pinion gear 94 may be replaced with a roller that rotates when driven by the motor M2, and the tray 80 may be moved by friction between the roller and the tray 80.

When using a roller that rotates when driven by motor M2, the roller may be in contact with toner cartridge 70. In this case, toner cartridges 70y-70k may be attached and detached directly to rotary body 90 without using trays 80y-80k. In this case, moving device 85 is composed of a roller.

A moving device 85' as a modified example will be described with reference to Figures 18(a) and (b). Figures 18(a) and (b) are diagrams showing a moving device 85' according to this modified example. The moving device 85' has a rotating body 494a that rotates by receiving the driving force of the motor M2.

In this modified example, the direction of the rotation axis of the rotating body 494a is parallel to the direction of the rotation axis 90C of the rotary body 90. When the rotating body 494a rotates in contact with the toner cartridge 70, the toner cartridge 70 can move back and forth between the mounting position (solid line in FIG. 18(b)) and the retracted position (dotted line in FIG. 18(b)).

The rotating body 494a may be a roller that rotates in contact with the toner cartridge 70, thereby moving the toner cartridge 70 by friction. The rotating body 494a may also be a gear that moves the toner cartridge 70 by meshing with a gear shape (rack shape) formed on the toner cartridge 70.

The moving device 85' may have multiple rotating bodies 494a. The multiple rotating bodies 494a may be arranged in any manner. For example, as shown in FIG. 18(a), the moving device 85' may include a rotating body 494a that abuts against one end of the toner cartridge 70 in the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge 70 (parallel to the rotation axis 90C) and a rotating body 494a that abuts against the other end of the toner cartridge 70. The moving device 85' may also include a rotating body 494a that abuts against the center of the toner cartridge 70.

The moving device 85' may also have only one rotating body 494a. In this case, the arrangement of the moving device 85' is arbitrary. For example, the moving device 85' may include a rotating body 494a that abuts against the center of the toner cartridge 70.

Furthermore, the rotating body 494a may be biased toward the toner cartridge 70. Also, as shown in FIG. 18(b), the moving device 85' may include a driven roller 494b. The toner cartridge 70 is sandwiched between the rotating body 494a and the driven roller 494b. Note that, in the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge 70, the position of the rotating body 494a and the position of the driven roller 494b may overlap or may be different. Also, at least one of the rotating body 494a and the driven roller 494b may be biased toward the toner cartridge 70.

The rotating body 494a and the driven roller 494b can also be provided on the rotary body 90.

Example 2
Example 2 will be described with reference to Figures 13 and 14(a-c). In Example 1, the pinion gear 94 was driven by the drive rack 15, but the pinion gear 94 may be driven by another mechanism. In this example, a configuration using a pendulum gear will be described as an example. Unless otherwise specified, elements with the same reference symbols as Example 1 have substantially the same configurations and functions as those described in Example 1, and differences from Example 1 will be mainly described.

Figures 13 and 14 are schematic diagrams for explaining the configuration for moving the tray 80 in Example 2. The device body 101A of the image forming device 101 in Example 2 has, as a driving device, a motor M2 as a driving source and a pendulum gear unit 115 as a transmission device.

A moving device (driven device) that moves the tray 80 by being driven by the driving device is disposed on the rotary body 90. In other words, the rotary unit 90U has the rotary body 90 and a moving device that includes the tray 80.

In the second embodiment, multiple moving devices are arranged corresponding to multiple toner cartridges 70y to 70k. Each moving device includes a driven part 194 (driven parts 194y to 194k) and a rack part 83 (rack parts 83y to 83k). The pendulum gear unit 115 transmits the driving force of the motor M2 to the driven part 194, and moves the tray 80 via the rack part 83.

Just as the pinion gears 94y-94k in the first embodiment are driven by the drive rack 15, the first to fourth driven parts 194y-194k are driven by the pendulum gear unit 115. The first to fourth driven parts 194y-194k are engaged with the rack parts 83y-83k, respectively, and move the trays 80y-80k, respectively.

The first to fourth driven parts 194y to 194k are substantially the same in that they are driven by the pendulum gear unit 115. The first to fourth driven parts 194y to 194k are also the same in that they move the trays 80y to 80k via the rack parts 83y to 83k. Therefore, in the following description, the first to fourth driven parts 194y to 194k, the rack parts 83y to 83k, and the trays 80y to 80k will not be differentiated from one another, and will be referred to as the driven part 194, the rack part 83, and the tray 80, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 14(a), the pendulum gear unit 115 has an input gear 115a, an output gear 115b, and an arm 115c. The input gear 115a is driven to rotate by a motor M2. The arm 115c supports the output gear 115b so that it can rotate (rotate) and allows the output gear 115b to move (swing, revolve) around the input gear 115a.

Furthermore, the pendulum gear unit 115 has an arm restricting member 115d that restricts the arm 115c. The arm restricting member 115d has a restricting portion 115d2 and a restricting rack portion 115d1. The restricting rack portion 115d1 meshes with the input gear 115a.

The driven portion 194 also has a driven gear 194a and a pinion gear 194b. The pinion gear 194b meshes with the rack portion 83 of the tray 80.

When the tray 80 is moved from the storage position to the removal position (i.e., when the toner cartridge 70 is moved from the installation position to the retracted position), the motor M2 drives the input gear 115a to rotate clockwise in Figure 14 (a-c).

When the input gear 115a rotates clockwise in the figure, the frictional force received from the input gear 115a causes the arm 115c to swing in the same clockwise direction as the input gear 115a. The output gear 115b supported by the arm 115c rotates clockwise around the input gear 115a together with the arm 115c and meshes with the driven gear 194a (Figure 14 (b)). At this time, it is preferable that the reaction force received by the output gear 115b from the driven gear 194a acts in a direction that moves the output gear 115b and the arm 115c clockwise around the input gear 115a. In other words, it is preferable that the direction of the reaction force received from the driven gear 194a when the output gear 115b rotates counterclockwise in Figure 14 (b) while pressing the driven gear 194a generates a clockwise moment in the figure with respect to the rotation axis of the input gear 115a. This makes it easier to maintain meshing between the output gear 115b and the driven gear 194a.

As shown in FIG. 14(c), when the input gear 115a rotates clockwise while the output gear 115b is engaged with the driven gear 194a, the pinion gear 194b is driven by the driven gear 194a. The rotation of the pinion gear 194b moves the rack portion 83, and the tray 80 moves from the storage position to the removal position. Then, the toner cartridge 70 moves from the installation position to the retracted position.

Note that when the toner cartridge 70 is in the retracted position, the positional relationship between the toner cartridge 70 and the frame 16 of the device main body 101A, and the positional relationship between the toner cartridge 70 and the rotary body 90 are the same as those shown in Example 1, so a description thereof will be omitted here.

Meanwhile, as the input gear 115a rotates clockwise as described above, the arm restricting member 115d having the restricting rack portion 115d1 that meshes with the input gear 115a descends. The arm restricting member 115d is then positioned at a position where the restricting portion 115d2 restricts the arm 115c. The restricting portion 115d2 restricts the movement of the arm 115c so that the output gear 115b disengages from the driven gear 194a.

When the tray 80 is moved from the removal position to the storage position (i.e., when the toner cartridge 70 is moved from the retracted position to the installation position), the motor M2 drives the input gear 115a to rotate counterclockwise in Figure 14 (a-c).

When the input gear 115a rotates counterclockwise, the output gear 115b supported by the arm 115c receives a force that moves the output gear 115b counterclockwise around the input gear 115a together with the arm 115c. However, because the movement of the arm 115c is restricted by the arm restriction member 115d, the meshing between the output gear 115b and the driven gear 194a is maintained.

When the input gear 115a rotates counterclockwise while the output gear 115b is engaged with the driven gear 194a, the pinion gear 194b is driven by the driven gear 194a, and the tray 80 moves from the removal position to the storage position. Then, the toner cartridge 70 moves from the retracted position to the installation position.

After the tray 80 moves to the storage position, the restriction of the arm 115c by the restricting portion 115d2 of the arm restricting member 115d is released. As a result, the counterclockwise rotation of the input gear 115a causes the output gear 115b to move counterclockwise around the input gear 115a together with the arm 115c, and the meshing between the output gear 115b and the driven gear 194a is released.

With the above configuration, the tray 80 can be moved from the storage position to the removal position. Also, the toner cartridge 70 can be moved from the mounting position to the retracted position. Furthermore, the tray 80 can be moved from the removal position to the storage position. Also, the toner cartridge 70 can be moved from the retracted position to the mounting position.

(Modification)
In this embodiment, the driving force of the motor M2 is transmitted to the tray 80 by the driven gear 194a and the pinion gear 194b. However, a single gear may be configured to mesh with the output gear 115b and the rack portion 83.

Also, as in the first embodiment, the configuration for moving the tray 80 is not limited to the so-called rack and pinion configuration.

As yet another modified example, instead of the configurations of Examples 1 and 2, a missing tooth gear may be used as a drive transmission mechanism from the motor M2 to the pinion gear meshing with the rack portion 83. For example, a missing tooth gear that meshes with the pinion gear of the rotary body 90 may be provided in the device body 1A, and the missing tooth gear may be rotated and driven by the motor M2. In this case, when the rotary body 90 takes the replacement position (FIG. 4(b)), the missing tooth gear meshes with a pinion gear (pinion gear 94k in the black replacement position of FIG. 12(a)) that meshes with the rack portion 83 of the tray 80 facing the opening 16a. The movement direction of the tray 80 can be switched by switching the rotation direction of the missing tooth gear. In addition, it is preferable that the missing tooth gear and the pinion gear 94 are disengaged except when the tray 80 is moved relative to the rotary body 90.

Example 3
Example 3 will be described with reference to Figures 15 and 16(a, b). In Examples 1 and 2, the toner cartridge 70 is moved from the mounting position to the retracted position by the driving force of the motor M2 of the main body 1A of the apparatus, but the configuration for moving the toner cartridge 70 is not limited to this. In this Example, a configuration for moving the toner cartridge 70 by the resilient force (biasing force) of a spring (elastic member) will be described as an example. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, elements with the same reference numerals as in Example 1 have substantially the same configurations and functions as those described in Example 1, and differences from Example 1 will be mainly described.

As shown in FIG. 15, in the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment, the toner cartridge 70 is moved from the mounted position to the retracted position using a biasing member 294 as an example of a moving device. More specifically, the rotary body 90 of the image forming apparatus has a biasing member 294k corresponding to the toner cartridge 70k and the tray 80k, and biasing members 294y to 294c corresponding to the toner cartridges 70y to 70c and the trays 80y to 80c. In other words, the rotary according to this embodiment has first to fourth biasing members corresponding to the first to fourth toner cartridges. The biasing member 294k is an example of the first biasing member. The biasing members 294y to 294c are all examples of the second biasing member. However, these numberings are merely used for convenience of explanation, and in principle can be interchanged as appropriate.

In this embodiment, the biasing member 294 includes an elastic member and is attached to the rotary body 90. In this embodiment, the elastic member can be a compression spring.

In this embodiment, the tray 80 is biased by the biasing member 294, so that the tray 80 moves from the storage position to the removal position, and the toner cartridge 70 moves from the mounting position to the retracted position. In this embodiment, the biasing member 294 biases the toner cartridge 70 via the tray 80, but the biasing member 294 may also bias the toner cartridge 70 directly.

In other words, although the urging member 294 in this embodiment is configured to abut against the tray 80, the urging member 294 may also abut against the toner cartridge 70. In this case, the tray 80 may be omitted.

In this embodiment, the toner cartridge 70k and the tray 80k are larger in size than the other toner cartridges 70y-70c and trays 80y-80c. Therefore, the distance that the toner cartridge 70k moves from the mounting position to the retracted position is longer than the distance that the toner cartridges 70y-70c move from the mounting position to the retracted position. Also, the distance that the tray 80k moves from the storage position to the removal position is longer than the distance that the trays 80y-80c move from the storage position to the removal position.

When the tray 80k is in the storage position and the toner cartridge 70k is in the installation position, the elastic member of the urging member 294k is in a deformed state. Similarly, when the trays 80y-80c are in the storage position and the toner cartridges 70y-70c are in the installation position, the elastic members of the urging members 294y-294c are in a deformed state.

In this state, the biasing force of the elastic member of biasing member 294k may be made greater than the biasing force of the elastic member of biasing members 294y to 294c. Also, the amount of deformation of the elastic member of biasing member 294k may be made greater than the amount of deformation of the elastic member of biasing members 294y to 294c. In this way, the distance over which toner cartridge 70k moves from the mounting position to the retracted position can be made greater than the distance over which toner cartridges 70y to 70c move from the mounting position to the retracted position. Also, the distance over which tray 80k moves from the storage position to the removal position can be made greater than the distance over which trays 80y to 80c move from the storage position to the removal position.

When the rotary body 90 rotates, it is preferable to restrict the movement of the toner cartridge 70 to the retracted position and the movement of the tray 80 to the removal position.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 16(a), a regulating member 295 may regulate the movement of the tray 80 to the removal position and the movement of the toner cartridge 70 to the retracted position. The regulating member 295 is movable between a regulating position that regulates the movement of the tray 80 to the removal position and the movement of the toner cartridge 70 to the retracted position, and a release position that allows the movement of the tray 80 to the removal position and the movement of the toner cartridge 70 to the retracted position.

In this embodiment, the regulating member 295 is biased toward the regulating position. When the rotary body 90 is in the replacement position and the regulating member 295 is moved to the release position, the biasing member 294 moves the tray 80 to the removal position and the toner cartridge 70 to the retracted position. The movement of the regulating member 295 to the release position may be performed manually by the user, or the device main body 1A may have a release means or mechanism for moving the regulating member 295. A drive source such as a solenoid or a motor can be used as the release means (release mechanism). Note that any of the motors M1, M2, and M3 may be used as the drive source.

In addition, the biasing state of the biasing member 294 may be switched each time the toner cartridge 70 or the tray 80 is pushed in.

For example, as shown in FIG. 16(b), the image forming device may have a received portion 296 that is linked to the biasing member 294, and a receiving portion 297 that receives the received portion 296. For example, the received portion 296 is provided on the tray 80, and the receiving portion 297 is provided on the rotary body 90. The received portion 296 is biased toward the right side in the figure by the biasing force of the biasing member 294.

When the receiving portion 296 is in position PP, the biasing force of the biasing member 294 is received by the first recess 297d of the receiving portion 297, and the receiving portion 296 remains in position PP. In this state, the tray 80 is in the removal position, and the toner cartridge 70 is in the retracted position.

In this state, when the tray 80 is pushed toward the storage position against the biasing force of the biasing member 294, or the toner cartridge 70 is pushed toward the mounting position, the received portion 296 moves to position Pt1 along the first guide surface 297a of the receiving portion 297. Thereafter, when the force pushing the tray 80 or toner cartridge 70 is released, the biasing force of the biasing member 294 moves the received portion 296 along the receiving portion 297 to position PR. At this time, the biasing force of the biasing member 294 is received by the second recess 297e of the receiving portion 297. As a result, the tray 80 is positioned in the storage position, and the toner cartridge 70 is positioned in the mounting position.

When the tray 80 or toner cartridge 70 is pushed in again from this state against the biasing force of the biasing member 294, the received portion 296 moves to position Pt2 along the second guide surface 297b of the receiving portion 297. When the force pushing the tray 80 or toner cartridge 70 is then released, the biasing force of the biasing member 294 moves the received portion 296 to position PP along the third guide surface 297c of the receiving portion 297. As a result, the tray 80 is positioned in the removal position, and the toner cartridge 70 is positioned in the retracted position.

When the receiving portion 297 is attached to the rotary body 90, the urging member 294 may include an elastic member and the receiving portion 296. In this case, when the receiving portion 296 is located at position PR, the urging force of the urging member 294 is received by the second recess 297e of the receiving portion 297 and does not act on the tray 80 or the toner cartridge 70. When the receiving portion 296 moves from position Pt2 to position PP, the urging force of the urging member 294 acts on the tray 80 or the toner cartridge 70, and the tray 80 is positioned at the removal position and the toner cartridge 70 is positioned at the retracted position. A member corresponding to the receiving portion 296 may be provided on the rotary body 90, and a member corresponding to the receiving portion 297 may be provided on the urging member 294 or the tray 80.

The image forming apparatus may have a locking portion 298 (tray holding member) shown in FIG. 16(c). In this embodiment, the locking portion 298 engages with the tray 80, but may also engage with the toner cartridge 70. The locking portion 298 holds the tray 80 in the storage position or holds the toner cartridge 70 in the mounting position when the biasing member 294 is not biasing the tray 80 or the toner cartridge 70. For example, even when the direction of gravity acting on the toner cartridge 70 is in the retraction direction of the toner cartridge 70 or a direction close to that direction due to the rotation of the rotary body 90, the locking portion 298 holds the toner cartridge 70 in the mounting position. When the biasing force of the biasing member 294 acts on the tray 80 or the toner cartridge 70, the locking portion 298 is moved by the tray 80 or the toner cartridge 70. The position at which the locking portion 298 engages with the locked portion of the tray 80 or the toner cartridge 70 is not limited to the position shown in FIG. 16(c).

The locking portion 298 can be, for example, the same as the protrusion 95 (Figures 7(a) and 7(b)) provided on the rotary body 90 of Example 1.

(Modification)
In this embodiment, the elastic members are compression springs, but they may be torsion coil springs, leaf springs, tension springs, or the like, each arranged at an appropriate position.

Also, a magnet may be used as the biasing member. For example, a first magnet may be attached to the rotary body 90, and the tray 80 may be biased toward the retracted position by the repulsive force between the first magnet and a second magnet attached to the tray 80 or toner cartridge 70.

Example 4
Example 4 will be described with reference to Figures 17(a) and 17(b). In Examples 1 and 2, the toner cartridge 70 is moved from the mounted position to the retracted position by the driving force of the motor M2 of the apparatus main body 1A, and in Example 3, the urging member 294, but the configuration for moving the toner cartridge 70 is not limited to this. In this example, a configuration for moving the toner cartridge 70 using a solenoid will be described as an example. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, elements with the same reference numerals as in Example 1 have substantially the same configurations and functions as those described in Example 1, and differences from Example 1 will be mainly described.

Figures 17(a,b) are diagrams explaining the configuration for moving the tray 80 in the fourth embodiment. In the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment, a solenoid unit 394, which is an example of a moving device, is used to move the toner cartridge 70 from the mounted position to the retracted position. More specifically, the rotary body 90 in this embodiment has a solenoid unit 394k corresponding to the toner cartridge 70k and the tray 80k. The rotary body 90 in this embodiment also has solenoid units 394y to 394c corresponding to the toner cartridges 70y to 70c and the trays 80y to 80c.

The solenoid unit 394 includes a coil and a movable member, and the movable member moves when the coil is excited. The movable member can move so that the tray 80 moves from the storage position to the removal position, or so that the toner cartridge 70 moves from the installation position to the retracted position.

The movable member can also move so that the tray 80 moves from the removal position to the storage position, or so that the toner cartridge 70 moves from the retracted position to the installation position.

17B, the image forming apparatus may have a locking portion 397 (tray holding member). In this embodiment, the locking portion 397 engages with the tray 80, but may also engage with the toner cartridge 70. The locking portion 397 holds the tray 80 in the storage position or holds the toner cartridge 70 in the mounting position when the movable member of the solenoid unit 394 is not biasing the tray 80 or the toner cartridge 70. In other words, the locking portion 397 restricts the tray 80 or the toner cartridge 70 from moving when the movable member of the solenoid unit 394 is not biasing the tray 80 or the toner cartridge 70. On the other hand, when the movable member of the solenoid unit 394 acts on the tray 80 or the toner cartridge 70, the locking portion 397 is moved by the tray 80 or the toner cartridge 70. The position at which the locking portion 397 engages with the locked portion of the tray 80 or the toner cartridge 70 is not limited to the position shown in FIG. 17C.

The locking portion 397 can be, for example, the same as the protrusion 95 (Figures 7(a) and 7(b)) provided on the rotary body 90 of Example 1.

Example 5
A fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 19. In the first to fourth embodiments, a rotary body 90 is provided with four developing units 50y to 50k, and a configuration capable of forming a color image using four colors of toner is described. In this embodiment, a configuration in which a toner cartridge is moved relative to a developing device capable of forming a monochrome image is described. In the following, unless otherwise specified, elements with common reference numerals to the first to fourth embodiments have substantially the same configurations and functions as those described in the first to fourth embodiments, and differences from the first to fourth embodiments will be mainly described.

As shown in FIG. 19, the image forming device 501 has a toner cartridge 570 that is detachable from the device main body 1A. The device main body 1A also has a developing device (developing unit) 590.

The developing device 590 is an example of a developing means or developing unit that develops (visualizes) the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 2 into a toner image using toner. The developing device 590 in this embodiment develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 2 using black toner.

The developing device 590 has a developing roller 51, a supply roller 52, and a developing blade. A toner cartridge 570 is attached to the developing device 590. The toner cartridge 570 contains black toner for replenishing the developing device 590.

The toner cartridge 570 has a toner frame 571. The toner frame 571 has a toner storage section 571a that stores toner, and a discharge opening 571b that communicates with the toner storage section 571a.

The developing device 590 has a developing frame (storage frame) 553 with a developing side storage section 553a that stores toner. The developing frame 553 also has a receiving opening 553b that communicates with the developing side storage section (toner supply chamber) 553a.

The toner cartridge 570 is detachable from the developing device 590 through the opening 16a provided in the frame 16 of the device main body 1A. More specifically, the toner cartridge 570 is movable through the opening 16a between an attached position and a retracted position retracted from the attached position relative to the developing frame 553. When the toner cartridge 570 is in the attached position relative to the developing frame 553, the discharge opening 571b faces the receiving opening 553b. In other words, the toner storage section 571a of the toner cartridge 570 and the developing side storage section 553a of the developing device 590 communicate with each other through the discharge opening 571b and the receiving opening 553b. When toner is supplied from the toner cartridge 570 to the developing device 590, at least a part of the receiving opening 553b is positioned below at least a part of the discharge opening 571b.

The toner contained in the toner container 571a is discharged from the discharge opening 571b, and the toner discharged from the discharge opening 571b is received in the developer container 553a through the receiving opening 553b. The toner contained in the developer container 553a is supplied to the developer roller 51 by the supply roller 52. The developer container 553a may be provided with a toner transport member that transports the toner toward the supply roller 52.

The function of the toner cartridge 570 is substantially the same as the function of the toner cartridge 70 in Examples 1 to 4. In addition, the function of the developing device 590 is substantially the same as the function of one of the developing units 50y, 50m, 50c, and 50k in Examples 1 to 4.

On the other hand, the device main body 1A has a transfer roller 512. The transfer roller 512 is an example of a transfer means or transfer unit that transfers an image from the photosensitive drum 2 to the sheet S. The transport roller pair 320 transports the sheet S to a transfer section, which is a nip between the photosensitive drum 2 and the transfer roller 512. The image on the photosensitive drum 2 is transferred to the surface of the transported sheet S.

The device main body 1A has a moving device configured to move the toner cartridge 570 from an attached position to a retracted position relative to the developing device 590 (more specifically, relative to the developing frame 553 of the developing device 590). As this moving device, the moving devices shown in Examples 1 to 4 and their modified examples can be used.

In this case, the parts of the moving device in the rotary body 90 in the first to fourth embodiments may be provided in the developing device 590. The replacement position and the development position of the developing device 590 may be the same or different. For example, the developing device 590 may be movable between a contact position where the developing roller 51 contacts the photosensitive drum 2 and a separation position where the developing roller 51 is separated from the photosensitive drum 2, and the developing device 590 may be in the separation position when the developing device 590 is in the replacement position.

For example, the developing device 590 may have a tray 80 and a configuration for moving the tray 80. The configuration for moving the tray 80 may be the same as that shown in the first to fourth embodiments and their modified examples. The developing device 590 may also have the rotating body 494a and driven roller 494b shown in the modified example of the first embodiment.

In this embodiment as well, when the toner cartridge 570 is in the retracted position, it is preferable that at least a portion of the toner cartridge 570 is outside the image forming apparatus 501 (outside the apparatus main body 1A). In other words, when the toner cartridge 570 is in the retracted position, at least a portion of the toner cartridge 570 is located outside the apparatus main body 1A, further out than the external position. In other words, at least a portion of the toner cartridge 570 is located in a space that would be outside the apparatus main body 1A if the door 14 were in the closed position. And, in terms of the retracted direction of the toner cartridge 570, at least a portion of the toner cartridge 570 is located downstream of the external position.

In addition, if the side surface 16b on which the opening 16a is provided is the front surface of the device main body 1A, when the toner cartridge 570 is in the retracted position, at least a portion of the toner cartridge 570 protrudes forward beyond the exterior surface on the front side of the device main body 1A.

In this embodiment, too, when the toner cartridge 570 is in the retracted position, it is preferable that more than half of the length of the toner cartridge 570 in the retracted direction is outside the machine.

Thus, in the first to fourth embodiments and their modified examples, the toner cartridge 70 was removably attached to the rotary body 90, but in this embodiment, the toner cartridge 570 is removably attached to the developing device 590.

Other Examples
In the above-described embodiments, the tray 80 is moved from the storage position to the removal position by the drive device or the biasing member of the device main body 1A without the user operating the tray 80. Alternatively, the tray 80 may be grasped by the user and pulled out from the storage position to the removal position while the rotary body 90 is in the replacement position (i.e., the support member is moved manually). Even in this case, the user only needs to insert and remove the toner cartridge 70 from the tray 80 pulled out from the device main body, which improves operability compared to the case where the toner cartridge is directly inserted and removed from the device main body.

In the above-mentioned first to fourth embodiments, the rotary body 90 has four developing units 50y to 50k, and a color image can be formed using four colors of toner. However, the rotary body 90 may have three or less developing units, or may have five or more developing units. In these cases, the number and arrangement of the trays and toner cartridges can be changed appropriately according to the number of developing units. For example, the above-mentioned first to fourth embodiments illustrate a configuration in which four toner cartridges 70y to 70k can be detachably attached to the rotary body 90. However, the rotary body 90 may have only one developing unit 50k, and only one toner cartridge 70k may be attached to the rotary body 90. In this case, the rotary body 90 rotates around the rotation axis 90C in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1, and can alternate between the black replacement position and the black development position.

In the above-mentioned first to fourth embodiments, the rotary body 90 is provided with four developing units 50y to 50k, and a configuration capable of forming a color image using four colors of toner has been described. However, the rotary body 90 may have multiple developing units capable of forming images using toner of the same color. For example, the rotary body 90 may be configured to have four black developing units 50k, and four toner cartridges 70k may be attached to the rotary body 90.

Summary of the Disclosure
The present disclosure includes at least the following configurations.

(Configuration 1)
An image forming apparatus,
a developing device including a developing roller and a container frame having a container portion for containing toner to be supplied to the developing roller;
a main body frame that houses the developing device and has an opening;
a toner cartridge that contains the toner and is detachably mountable to the developing device through the opening, the toner cartridge being movable with respect to the container frame between an attached position and a retracted position retracted from the attached position, and configured to supply the toner to the container when in the attached position;
a moving device configured to move the toner cartridge from the mounting position to the retracted position and to move the toner cartridge from the retracted position to the mounting position;
a drive device including a drive source and configured to drive the moving device;
having
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

(Configuration 2)
the moving device is attached to the developing device, the toner cartridge is removably mounted on a support member, and the moving device includes a support member for supporting the toner cartridge;
the support member is movable relative to the accommodating frame such that the toner cartridge moves from the mounting position to the retracted position, and the toner cartridge moves from the retracted position to the mounting position.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

(Configuration 3)
the moving device includes a driven part attached to the developing device,
The driving device includes a transmission device configured to transmit the driving force of the driving source to the driven part.
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2.

(Configuration 4)
the transmission device includes a first drive gear rotated by the drive force,
the driven portion includes a rack gear provided on the support member and a pinion gear meshing with the rack gear,
The first drive gear is configured to drive the pinion gear.
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3,

(Configuration 5)
the first drive gear is configured to reciprocate relative to the main body frame in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction;
When the first driving gear moves in the first direction, the toner cartridge moves from the mounting position to the retracted position,
When the first driving gear moves in the second direction, the toner cartridge moves from the retracted position to the mounted position.
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4.

(Configuration 6)
the transmission device has a transmission member that transmits the driving force to the driven part,
The drive mechanism is configured to assume a state in which the drive mechanism is engaged with the driven part so as to be capable of transmitting drive force, and a state in which the drive mechanism is disengaged from the driven part.
6. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 3 to 5.

(Configuration 7)
the transmission device includes a first drive gear rotated by the drive force,
the driven portion includes a rack gear pair and a pinion gear pair provided on the support member, one of the pinion gear pair meshing with one of the rack gear pair, and the other of the pinion gear pair meshing with the other of the rack gear pair,
the first drive gear is configured to drive the one of the pair of pinion gears;
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3,

(Configuration 8)
the developing device is a rotatable rotary;
with respect to a rotational axis direction of the developing device, the one of the pinion gear pair and the one of the rack gear pair are disposed on one end side of the support member, and the other of the pinion gear pair and the other of the rack gear pair are disposed on the other end side of the support member.
8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7.

(Configuration 9)
the transmission device includes a second drive gear;
The second drive gear is configured to drive the other of the pinion gear pair.
9. The image forming apparatus according to configuration 8.

(Configuration 10)
The developing device is a rotatable rotary.
8. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 1 to 7.

(Configuration 11)
a moving direction of the toner cartridge from the mounting position toward the retracted position is a direction intersecting a rotation axis direction of the developing device;
11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10,

(Configuration 12)
Further comprising a photosensitive drum,
the developing device is rotatable between a developing position in which the developing roller faces the photosensitive drum and a replacement position in which removal of the toner cartridge from the developing device is permitted;
11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10,

(Configuration 13)
An image forming apparatus,
a rotatable rotary including a first developing roller, a second developing roller, a first container frame having a first container portion for container a first toner to be supplied to the first developing roller, and a second container frame having a second container portion for container a second toner to be supplied to the second developing roller;
a main body frame that houses the rotary and has an opening;
a first toner cartridge that contains the first toner and is detachable from the rotary through the opening, the first toner cartridge being movable with respect to the first accommodating frame between a first mounting position and a first retracted position retracted from the first mounting position, and configured to supply the first toner to the first accommodating section when in the first mounting position;
a second toner cartridge that contains the second toner and is detachable from the rotary through the opening, the second toner cartridge being movable with respect to the second accommodating frame between a second mounting position and a second retracted position retracted from the second mounting position, and configured to supply the second toner to the second accommodating section when in the second mounting position;
a first moving device configured to move the first toner cartridge from the first mounting position to the first retracted position and to move the first toner cartridge from the first retracted position to the first mounting position;
a second moving device configured to move the second toner cartridge from the second mounting position to the second retracted position and to move the second toner cartridge from the second retracted position to the second mounting position;
An image forming apparatus comprising:

(Configuration 14)
the first moving device is attached to the rotary, the first toner cartridge is removably mounted on the first support member, and the first moving device includes a first support member that supports the first toner cartridge;
the second moving device is attached to the rotary, the second toner cartridge is removably mounted on the second support member, and the second moving device includes a second support member that supports the second toner cartridge;
the first support member is movable with respect to the first accommodating frame such that the first toner cartridge moves from the first mounting position to the first retracted position and the first toner cartridge moves from the first retracted position to the first mounting position;
the second support member is movable relative to the second accommodating frame such that the second toner cartridge moves from the second mounting position to the second retracted position and the second toner cartridge moves from the second retracted position to the second mounting position.
14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13.

(Configuration 15)
Further comprising a drive device including a drive source;
the first moving device includes a first driven part attached to the rotary,
the second moving device includes a second driven part attached to the rotary,
the driving device includes a transmission device configured to transmit a driving force of the driving source to the first driven part and the second driven part,
15. The image forming apparatus according to configuration 14.

(Configuration 16)
the transmission device includes a first drive gear rotated by the drive force,
the first driven portion includes a first rack gear provided on the first support member and a first pinion gear meshing with the first rack gear,
the second driven portion includes a second rack gear provided on the support member and a second pinion gear meshing with the second rack gear,
The first drive gear is configured to drive the first pinion gear and the second pinion gear.
16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15,

(Configuration 17)
the first drive gear is configured to reciprocate relative to the main body frame in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction;
when the first driving gear moves in the first direction, the first toner cartridge moves from the first mounting position to the first retracted position, or the second toner cartridge moves from the second mounting position to the second retracted position,
When the first driving gear moves in the second direction, the first toner cartridge moves from the first retracted position to the first mounted position, or the second toner cartridge moves from the second retracted position to the second mounted position.
17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 16,

(Configuration 18)
the transmission device includes a first drive gear rotated by the drive force,
the first driven portion includes a first rack gear pair and a first pinion gear pair provided on the first support member, one of the first pinion gear pair meshing with one of the first rack gear pair, and the other of the first pinion gear pair meshing with the other of the first rack gear pair,
the second driven portion includes a second rack gear pair and a second pinion gear pair provided on the second support member, one of the second pinion gear pair meshing with one of the second rack gear pair, and the other of the second pinion gear pair meshing with the other of the second rack gear pair,
the first drive gear is configured to drive one of the first pinion gear pair and one of the second pinion gear pair;
17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 16,

(Configuration 19)
with respect to a rotational axis direction of the rotary, the one of the first pinion gear pair and the one of the first rack gear pair are disposed on one end side of the first support member, and the other of the first pinion gear pair and the other of the first rack gear pair are disposed on the other end side of the first support member,
With respect to the rotational axis direction of the rotary, the one of the second pinion gear pair and the one of the second rack gear pair are disposed on one end side of the second support member, and the other of the second pinion gear pair and the other of the second rack gear pair are disposed on the other end side of the second support member.
20. The image forming apparatus according to claim 18,

(Configuration 20)
the transmission device includes a second drive gear rotated by the drive force,
the second drive gear is configured to drive the other of the first pinion gear pair and the other of the second rack gear pair;
20. The image forming apparatus according to claim 19,

(Configuration 21)
the transmission device has a transmission member that transmits the driving force to the first driven part and the second driven part,
the transmission member is configured to be in a state in which it is engaged with the first driven part so as to be able to transmit drive, a state in which it is engaged with the second driven part so as to be able to transmit drive, and a state in which it is disengaged from the first driven part and the second driven part.
21. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 15 to 20.

(Configuration 22)
when a length by which the first toner cartridge protrudes from the opening when in the first retracted position is defined as a first length and a length by which the second toner cartridge protrudes from the opening when in the second retracted position is defined as a second length, the first length is longer than the second length;
22. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 13 to 21.

(Configuration 23)
a moving distance of the first toner cartridge from the first mounting position to the first retracted position is longer than a moving distance of the second toner cartridge from the second mounting position to the second mounting position;
23. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 13 to 22.

(Configuration 24)
the first toner cartridge is capable of containing a first amount of the toner;
the second toner cartridge is capable of containing a second amount of the toner;
the first amount is greater than the second amount;
24. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 13 to 23.

(Configuration 25)
a moving direction of the first toner cartridge from the first mounting position toward the first retracted position is a direction intersecting a rotation axis direction of the rotary,
a moving direction of the second toner cartridge from the second mounting position toward the second retracted position is a direction intersecting the rotation axis direction of the rotary.
25. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 13 to 24.

(Configuration 26)
Further comprising a photosensitive drum,
the rotary is rotatable between a first developing position in which the first developing roller faces the photosensitive drum, a first replacement position in which removal of the first toner cartridge from the rotary is permitted, a second developing position in which the second developing roller faces the photosensitive drum, and a second replacement position in which removal of the second toner cartridge from the rotary is permitted.
26. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 13 to 25.

16...Main body frame (frame)/16a...Opening/51...Developing roller/51k...Developing roller, first developing roller/51y, 51m, 51c...Developing roller, second developing roller/53a...Storage section, first storage section, second storage section (developing side storage section)/53k...Storage frame, first storage frame (developing frame)/53y, 53m, 53c...Storage frame, second storage frame (developing frame)/70k...Toner cartridge, first toner cartridge/70y, 70m, 70c...Toner - Cartridge, second toner cartridge / 80k... Support member, first support member (tray) / 80y, 80m, 80c... Support member, second support member (tray) / 85, 85', 85y, 85m, 85c, 85k... Moving device / 90... Development device, rotary (rotary body) / 98... Driving device / 553... Storage frame (development frame) / 553a... Storage section (development side storage section) / 570... Toner cartridge / 590... Development device / M2... Driving source (motor)

Claims (12)

An image forming apparatus,
a developing device including a developing roller and a container frame having a container portion for containing toner to be supplied to the developing roller;
a main body frame that houses the developing device and has an opening;
a toner cartridge that contains the toner and is detachably mountable to the developing device through the opening, the toner cartridge being movable with respect to the container frame between an attached position and a retracted position retracted from the attached position, and configured to supply the toner to the container when in the attached position;
a moving device configured to move the toner cartridge from the mounting position to the retracted position and to move the toner cartridge from the retracted position to the mounting position;
a drive device including a drive source and configured to drive the moving device;
having
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: the moving device is attached to the developing device, the toner cartridge is removably mounted on a support member, and the moving device includes a support member for supporting the toner cartridge;
the support member is movable relative to the accommodating frame such that the toner cartridge moves from the mounting position to the retracted position, and the toner cartridge moves from the retracted position to the mounting position.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, the moving device includes a driven part attached to the developing device,
The driving device includes a transmission device configured to transmit the driving force of the driving source to the driven part.
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, the transmission device includes a first drive gear rotated by the drive force,
the driven portion includes a rack gear provided on the support member and a pinion gear meshing with the rack gear,
The first drive gear is configured to drive the pinion gear.
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3. the first drive gear is configured to reciprocate relative to the main body frame in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction;
When the first driving gear moves in the first direction, the toner cartridge moves from the mounting position to the retracted position,
When the first driving gear moves in the second direction, the toner cartridge moves from the retracted position to the mounted position.
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4. the transmission device has a transmission member that transmits the driving force to the driven part,
The drive mechanism is configured to assume a state in which the drive mechanism is engaged with the driven part so as to be capable of transmitting drive force, and a state in which the drive mechanism is disengaged from the driven part.
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3. the transmission device includes a first drive gear rotated by the drive force,
the driven portion includes a rack gear pair and a pinion gear pair provided on the support member, one of the pinion gear pair meshing with one of the rack gear pair, and the other of the pinion gear pair meshing with the other of the rack gear pair,
the first drive gear is configured to drive the one of the pair of pinion gears;
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3. the developing device is a rotatable rotary;
with respect to a rotational axis direction of the developing device, the one of the pinion gear pair and the one of the rack gear pair are disposed on one end side of the support member, and the other of the pinion gear pair and the other of the rack gear pair are disposed on the other end side of the support member.
8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, the transmission device includes a second drive gear;
The second drive gear is configured to drive the other of the pinion gear pair.
9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, The developing device is a rotatable rotary.
8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a multi-color image forming apparatus. a moving direction of the toner cartridge from the mounting position toward the retracted position is a direction intersecting a rotation axis direction of the developing device;
11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10. Further comprising a photosensitive drum,
the developing device is rotatable between a developing position in which the developing roller faces the photosensitive drum and a replacement position in which removal of the toner cartridge from the developing device is permitted;
11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10.

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