JP3688616B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a color copying machine, a color facsimile, a color printer, a color scanner, or a multifunction machine having both functions.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art As an image forming apparatus capable of color printing described above, an image forming apparatus having a plurality of image forming units that use cyan, magenta, yellow, and black toners is known.
[0003]
The plurality of image forming units are arranged side by side along a conveyance line for conveying the recording paper, and each image forming unit includes a toner box for storing toner and an image forming unit having a photosensitive drum. Each of these image forming units follows the conveyance line in the apparatus main body and the longitudinal direction thereof is substantially orthogonal to the conveyance line so that maintenance, inspection, or removal of the jammed recording paper can be easily performed. It is slidably supported by two guide portions provided in the direction, and is configured to be attached to the apparatus body by being pulled out or being pushed in as necessary.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the conventional image forming apparatus, each image forming unit is formed in the same shape, and two guide portions provided for each image forming unit are arranged in the apparatus main body in common to each image forming unit. It is arranged by. Therefore, in the case of the conventional image forming apparatus, the number of guide portions is increased and the cost is increased, and a gap between adjacent image forming units is required, so that the length between the image forming units at both ends is long. As a result, there is a problem that the image forming apparatus becomes larger.
[0005]
SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can be downsized and reduced in cost.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of image forming units are arranged in parallel along a conveyance line for conveying recording paper, and each image forming unit includes an image forming unit having at least a photosensitive drum, and the image forming unit includes An image forming apparatus that is slidably mountable to the apparatus main body in a direction substantially orthogonal to the transport line, wherein each of the image forming units of the image forming units is one of adjacent image forming units. The image forming unit is slidably supported, and supported portions are provided separately at two locations along the transport line, and at least a part of the image forming unit is provided on the supported portion. One is slidably supported by the guide provided on the other of the adjacent image forming units, and the other supported part is provided on the apparatus main body. Characterized in that it is configured to be slidably supported by the main guide portion which is.
[0007]
In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the guide portions that slidably support the image forming unit are provided in the adjacent image forming units, so the number of main body guide portions provided on the apparatus main body side is reduced. This can reduce the cost. In addition, since the guide portion is composed of adjacent image forming units, adjacent image forming units can be brought close to each other, thereby shortening the length dimension between the image forming units at both ends, and enabling miniaturization. become.
[0008]
In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the height of at least one of the guide part of each image forming unit and the main body guide part of the apparatus main body in the plurality of image forming parts is changed for each image forming part, and It can be set as the structure by which the height of the to-be-supported part to be changed is changed by the same change amount in the same direction.
[0009]
In the case of this configuration, if the supported part that does not correspond to the guide part or the main body guide part is supported, the image forming unit is inclined even if it can be mounted temporarily. It will be in the state which interfered with the part and the guide part of an adjacent image forming unit. Alternatively, the presence of such interfering portions makes the mounting itself impossible. As a result, a change in the mounting state is detected, so that only the corresponding image forming unit can be attached to the predetermined guide portion and the main body guide portion. Therefore, all the image forming units can be arranged in the predetermined guide portion and the main body guide portion.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below.
[0011]
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing the entirety of a color copying machine according to a first embodiment to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a front view showing an enlarged main part of the color copying machine.
[0012]
In this color copying machine, a paper feed cassette 20 for storing recording paper P is disposed at the lower part of the apparatus main body 18, and the recording paper P in the paper feed cassette 20 is first conveyed by a paper feed roller (not shown). After being transported to the path 28, it is transported to the image forming region 22 via an endless transfer belt 243 provided in the transfer transport unit 24, where a plurality of toner images are transferred, and then transported to the fixing unit 26. The toner image is fixed and discharged to the recording paper discharge unit 14 through the second conveyance path 30. Here, the first conveyance path 28, the upper portion of the transfer belt 243, and the second conveyance path 30 constitute a conveyance line.
[0013]
The image forming area 22 is an area in which a plurality of toner images are formed on a recording sheet, and the first image forming section 221 that forms a black toner image from the upstream side along the transport line, cyan toner A second image forming unit 222 that forms an image, a third image forming unit 223 that forms a magenta toner image, and a fourth image forming unit 224 that forms a yellow toner image are provided.
[0014]
Each of the image forming units 221 to 224 includes a toner box 230 for storing each toner and an image forming unit 231 provided below the toner box 230. The image forming unit 231 rotates in the direction of the arrow. The photosensitive drum 225, the charging unit 226 disposed to face the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 225, and the downstream side of the charging unit 226 and opposed to the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 225. The developing unit 228 and a cleaning unit 229 disposed on the downstream side of the developing unit 228 and facing the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 225 are incorporated. Note that an exposure unit 227 disposed on the outer side of the charging unit 226 and on the upstream side of the developing unit 228 so as to face the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 225 is disposed outside the image forming unit 231.
[0015]
Further, inside the endless transfer belt 243, a transfer roller 244 is provided between the developing unit 228 and the cleaning unit 229 and facing the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 225. The transfer / conveying section 24 is constituted by rollers 244 and the like.
[0016]
Each image forming unit 231 provided in each of the image forming units 221 to 224 has a pair of supported portions 232 and 233 formed at two locations along the transport line as shown in FIG. A guide portion 234 that slidably supports the supported portion 232 on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the left side image forming units 231 adjacent to each other is formed on the downstream side of the supported portion 233 on the downstream side in the conveyance direction. .
[0017]
On the other hand, the apparatus main body 18 is formed with a main body guide portion 240 at a position corresponding to the supported portion 233 on the downstream side in the transport direction, and further supported on the upstream side in the image forming unit 231 of the first image forming portion 221. A main body guide portion 241 is also formed at a position corresponding to the portion 232. These main body guide parts 240 and 241 are long in the front-rear direction substantially orthogonal to the transport line.
[0018]
For mounting the image forming units 231 of the image forming units 221 to 224 to the apparatus main body 18, first, the image forming unit 231 of the first image forming unit 221 disposed on the most upstream side in the transport direction is attached. This attachment is performed by placing the supported portion 233 on the downstream side in the conveyance direction on the main body guide portion 240 and placing the supported portion 232 on the upstream side on the main body guide portion 241 and then pushing and sliding it. Is called. Next, the image forming unit 231 of the second image forming unit 222 disposed on the downstream side of the first image forming unit 221 is attached. In this attachment, the upstream supported portion 232 is placed on the guide portion 234 of the first image forming portion 221, and the supported portion 233 on the downstream side in the transport direction is placed on the main body guide portion 240. This is done by pushing and sliding. Hereinafter, the image forming unit 231 of the third image forming unit 223 and the image forming unit 231 of the fourth image forming unit 224 are connected in this order by the same mounting method as the image forming unit 231 of the second image forming unit 222. Install.
[0019]
As described above, each image forming unit 231 is attached from the upstream side in the transport direction when mounting from the downstream side in the transport direction because there is no guide portion 234 on which the supported portion 232 on the upstream side is placed, and thus the mounting is not possible. This is because it becomes possible. Conversely, when each image forming unit 231 is removed, it may be performed in order from the downstream side, contrary to the case of mounting.
[0020]
The image forming units 231 can have a common configuration by keeping the pitch of the main body guide portions 240 constant and the pitch of the main body guide portions 241 and the guide portions 234 constant.
[0021]
Therefore, in the case of the first embodiment, since the guide portion 234 that supports the image forming unit 231 in a slidable manner is provided in the adjacent image forming unit 231, the main body guide portion 241 provided on the apparatus main body 18 side. Can be reduced, thereby reducing the cost. Further, since the guide portion 234 is composed of the adjacent image forming units 231, the adjacent image forming units 231 can be brought close to each other, whereby the length dimension between the image forming units at both ends can be shortened, and the size can be reduced. Can be realized.
[0022]
(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 3 is a front view showing a main part of the color copying machine according to the second embodiment.
[0023]
In this embodiment, the height position of the main body guide unit 240 provided on the apparatus main body 18 side is changed for each of the image forming units 221 to 224. Specifically, the height position of the main body guide portion 240b that is one downstream side of the main body guide portion 240a on the most upstream side is lowered, and the height of the main body guide portion 240c that is one downstream side of the main body guide portion 240b. Similarly, the height position of the main body guide portion 240d, which is one downstream of the main body guide portion 240c, is lowered.
[0024]
On the other hand, the height of the supported portion 233 on the downstream side in the transport direction in the image forming unit 231 of the image forming units 221 to 224 is also adjusted so that the height position is lower on the downstream side. Specifically, the height position of the supported portion 233b, which is one downstream side of the supported portion 233a on the most upstream side, is lowered, and the height of the supported portion 233c, which is one downstream side of the supported portion 233b. Similarly, the height position of the supported portion 233d, which is one downstream of the supported portion 233c, is lowered. Moreover, the change of these supported parts 233a-233d is made into the same change amount in the same direction as the change of the main body guide parts 240a-240d. In addition, about the other part, it is set as the same structure as 1st Embodiment.
[0025]
In the case of the second embodiment, only the corresponding image forming units can be attached to the predetermined guide portion and the main body guide portion for the following reason.
[0026]
For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the supported portion 233a on the downstream side in the transport direction in the image forming unit 231 of the first image forming unit 221 disposed on the most upstream side on the third main body guide portion 240c from the upstream side. The image forming unit 231 of the first image forming unit 221 is mounted so as to correspond to each other. It is assumed that the image forming unit 231 of the second image forming unit 222 has already been properly mounted on one upstream side.
[0027]
In this case, the height of the supported portion 233a in the image forming unit 231 of the first image forming portion 221 is adjusted to the height of the main body guide portion 240a higher than that of the main body guide portion 240c. Even if it is possible, the left side of the image forming unit 231 of the first image forming unit 221 is inclined to be inclined, so that the image forming unit 231 forms a peripheral portion thereof, for example, the transfer belt 243 or one upstream side image forming unit. Or interfere with the guide portion 234 of the unit 222. Alternatively, the presence of such interfering portions makes the mounting itself impossible.
[0028]
Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the supported portion 233 d on the downstream side in the transport direction in the image forming unit 231 of the fourth image forming unit 224 disposed on the most downstream side on the third main body guide portion 240 c from the upstream side. The image forming unit 231 of the fourth image forming unit 224 is mounted so as to correspond to each other. It is assumed that the image forming unit 231 of the second image forming unit 222 has already been properly mounted on one upstream side.
[0029]
In this case, the height of the supported portion 233d in the image forming unit 231 of the fourth image forming portion 224 is adjusted to the height of the main body guide portion 240d lower than the main body guide portion 240c. Even if it can be done, the left side of the image forming unit 231 of the fourth image forming unit 224 is tilted upward, and the image forming unit 231 is placed in its peripheral part, for example, below the toner box 230 or below the exposure part 227. It interferes. Alternatively, the presence of such interfering portions makes the mounting itself impossible.
[0030]
Thus, the image forming unit 231 of the first image forming unit 221 having the main body guide part 240a adjusted higher than the main body guide part 240c in the third main body guide part 240c from the upstream side, and conversely When the image forming unit 231 of the fourth image forming unit 224 having the main body guide portion 240d adjusted to be lower than the main body guide portion 240c is to be mounted, a change in the mounting state is detected, so that the predetermined guide portion 234 and Only the corresponding image forming unit 231 can be attached to the main body guide portions 240a and the like 241.
[0031]
The above-described abnormality detection of the mounted state is not limited to the third main body guide portion 240c from the upstream side, and similarly occurs in any main body guide portion. Therefore, in the case of the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. Thus, there is an effect that all the image forming units 231 can be arranged in the predetermined guide portion and the main body guide portion without mistakenly attaching the image forming units 231 of the image forming portions 221 to 224.
[0032]
In the second embodiment described above, the height of the main body guide portion and the height of the supported portion on the downstream side in the transport direction in the image forming unit are adjusted so as to be lower toward the downstream side. In the invention, on the contrary, the height of the main body guide portion and the height of the supported portion on the downstream side in the transport direction in the image forming unit may be adjusted so as to be lower as the upstream side is lower. In this case, the same effect as that of the second embodiment can be obtained.
[0033]
In the second embodiment described above, the height of the main body guide portion and the height of the supported portion on the downstream side in the transport direction in the image forming unit are adjusted so as to be lower toward the downstream side. The invention is not limited to this, and the height of the guide portion of the image forming unit and the height of the supported portion on the upstream side in the transport direction of the image forming unit may be adjusted, or the height of the main body guide portion and the image forming unit The height of the supported portion on the downstream side in the transport direction and the height of the guide portion of the image forming unit and the height of the supported portion on the upstream side in the transport direction in the image forming unit may be adjusted. In this case, the same effect as that of the second embodiment can be obtained.
[0034]
In the above description, the supported portion on the upstream side in the conveyance direction in the image forming unit is supported by the guide portion of the adjacent image forming unit (however, the main body guide portion on the most upstream side), and the conveyance direction in the image forming unit. The downstream side supported portion is supported by the main body guide portion. However, in the present invention, on the contrary, the supported portion on the upstream side in the transport direction in the image forming unit is supported by the main body guide portion. Of course, the present invention can also be implemented as a configuration in which the supported portion on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the forming unit is supported by the guide portion of the adjacent image forming unit (however, the main body guide portion on the most downstream side).
[0035]
In the above description, the image forming unit is configured to incorporate the photosensitive drum, the charging unit, the developing unit, and the cleaning unit, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a configuration in which only the photosensitive drum is built in the image forming unit, a configuration in which an exposure unit provided outside in the above description is built in, or a configuration in which a toner box is further built in may be employed. Even in such a configuration, it is needless to say that the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.
[0036]
In the above description, the present invention is applied to a color copying machine. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a color facsimile having the plurality of image forming units, the same color printer, the same color scanner, or the functions thereof. The present invention can be similarly applied to an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral having the combination.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, in the case of the present invention, since the guide portions that slidably support the image forming units are provided in the adjacent image forming units, the number of main body guide portions provided on the apparatus main body side. The cost can be reduced. In addition, since the guide portion is composed of adjacent image forming units, adjacent image forming units can be brought close to each other, thereby shortening the length dimension between the image forming units at both ends, and enabling miniaturization. become.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing the entirety of a color copying machine according to a first embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a front view showing a main part of the color copying machine of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a front view showing a main part of a color copying machine according to a second embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 4 is a diagram used for explaining the effects of a color copying machine according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram used for explaining the effects of a color copying machine according to a second embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
P Recording paper 18 Main body 28 First transport path (transport line)
30 Second transport path (transport line)
221 First image forming section 222 Second image forming section 223 Third image forming section 224 Fourth image forming section 225 Photosensitive drum 230 Toner box 231 Image forming unit 232 Supported section 233 on the upstream side in the transport direction Supported portion 234 on the downstream side in the direction Guide portion 240, 240a, 240b, 240c, 240d, 241 Main body guide portion

Claims (2)

A plurality of image forming units are arranged side by side along a conveyance line for conveying the recording paper, and each image forming unit includes an image forming unit having at least a photosensitive drum, and the image forming unit is in a direction substantially orthogonal to the conveyance line. An image forming apparatus that is slidably mountable to the apparatus main body,
Each of the image forming units of each of the image forming units includes a guide unit that slidably supports one of the adjacent image forming units, and a cover provided separately at two locations along the conveyance line. And at least a part of the image forming units is supported such that one of the supported portions is slidable by the guide portion provided on the other of the adjacent image forming units. An image forming apparatus, wherein the other of the support portions is slidably supported by a main body guide portion provided in the apparatus main body. The height of at least one of the guide part of each image forming unit and the main body guide part of the apparatus main body in the plurality of image forming parts is changed for each image forming part, and the height of the corresponding supported part is The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is changed in the same direction by the same change amount.

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