JP4355561B2 - Electrophotographic image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, for example, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile machine that employs an electrophotographic process.

  FIG. 15 is a schematic sectional view showing an example of a conventional color laser printer using an electrophotographic process.

  The color laser printer A is an inline printer including four electrophotographic photosensitive drums. Specifically, the printer A includes four process cartridges 100 of yellow 100A, magenta 100B, cyan 100C, and black 100D. Each process cartridge 100 has a developer (toner) image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum 101 (101A, 101B, 101C, 101D) provided therein. Thereafter, the printer A continuously multiplex-transfers each developer image onto the intermediate transfer member 102 to obtain a full color image.

  Further, the cartridge 100 has a memory 103 that stores information related to the cartridge 100. When the cartridge 100 is mounted on the printer A main body, the memory 103 contacts and communicates with the information reading unit 113 provided on the printer A main body side. As a result, it is possible to detect information such as the remaining amount of developer and the life of the photosensitive drum, and to accurately manage the life of the cartridge (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  However, in the above-described printer A, the holding frame body 112 on which the cartridge 100 is mounted is fixed to the printer A main body. Therefore, when any cartridge 100 is mounted on the holding frame 112, the memory 103 (103A, 103B, 103C, 103D) is stored in the reading means 113 (113A, 113B, 113C, 113D) provided in the printer A main body. It abuts against the X direction.

According to the above configuration, the contact portion of the reading unit 113 does not move on the contact surface of the memory 103 and always contacts at a fixed position. That is, the contact surface of the memory 103 cannot be wiped by the contact portion of the reading unit 113. For this reason, when there is an oxide film or dirt on the contact surface, there is a possibility that the conduction becomes unstable and a communication failure occurs even though the reading unit 113 and the memory 103 are in contact.
JP 2000-162929 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic apparatus capable of maintaining a good communication state between a storage unit provided in a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body. An object is to provide an image forming apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention,
In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which a plurality of process cartridges having an electrophotographic photosensitive drum can be attached and detached,
An opening / closing cover provided so as to be movable between an open state and a closed state with respect to the apparatus main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus;
Linked to the movement of the cover, a holding member for detachably holding a plurality of said process cartridge, taking a detachable position at which the cover is detached the process cartridge in the open state the said cover is the A holding member that swings relative to the apparatus main body so as to take an image forming position where the process cartridge performs image formation in the closed state ;
A storage means for storing information of the process cartridge provided in each of the process cartridges;
A plurality of reading means for communicating information between the storage means and the apparatus main body when the holding member takes the image forming position, the contact surface of the storage means being interlocked with the swinging of the holding member A plurality of contact members provided in each of the plurality of reading means, and a plurality of contact members that are movably supported by a movement trajectory different from the swing trajectory of the contact surface. A plurality of reading means, and a plurality of reading means,
A lock lever that engages with the holding member to hold the holding member in the image forming position, and a lock lever that can be disengaged from the holding member;
An interlock switch that operates by moving the opening / closing cover from the closed state, and an interlock switch that releases communication of information between the storage unit and the apparatus body by operating;
A link member that connects the opening / closing cover and the holding member, one end of which is rotatably connected to the opening / closing cover, and one end of which is rotatably connected to the first link. A second link pivotally connected to the holding member at the other end, and the lock lever is moved by the movement of the open / close cover from the closed state to the open state. After the interlock switch is operated in a state where it is engaged with the holding member, the opening / closing cover is further moved in the opened state in conjunction with the first link and the second link. A link member configured to swing the holding member in the direction of the attachment / detachment position and release the engagement with the lock lever;
It is characterized by having .

According to the present invention, the contact member wipes while moving on the contact surface, so that the communication state between the storage means provided in the process cartridge and the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body can be kept good. Furthermore, even if the open / close cover is opened while communicating information,
The physical contact between the stage and the reading means is kept stable. Accordingly, in any case, since the reading unit is separated from the storage unit after the communication of the information between the storage unit and the apparatus main body is canceled by the interlock switch, the communication state between the storage unit and the apparatus main body can be kept good. .

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be exemplarily described in detail below with reference to the drawings and embodiments. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those unless otherwise specified. .

[Entire configuration of electrophotographic image forming apparatus]
The overall configuration of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus will be schematically described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, a printer which is an aspect of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus will be described with reference to the printer. As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus B includes process cartridges 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K that perform image formation for each color of Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black). The cartridges 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K each include an intermediate transfer member 35 on which the developer images of the respective colors formed at the image forming positions are transferred in a multiple manner.

[Process cartridge]
The configuration of each of the process cartridges 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K is almost the same except that the color of the developer accommodated therein is different. Therefore, in the following, the process cartridge 2Y will be described, and the description of the overlapping parts of other cartridges will be omitted.

  The cartridge 2Y includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum (hereinafter referred to as a photosensitive drum) 21Y that rotates at a constant speed, a charging roller 23Y that uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 21Y, and a laser emitted from the scanner unit 1Y. A developing roller 22Y that develops the photosensitive drum 21Y on which a latent image is formed by 10Y, and a developing frame 24Y that rotatably supports them are provided. The four-color cartridges 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K are configured to be individually detachable from the image forming apparatus B main body.

[Electrophotographic photosensitive drum]
The photosensitive drum 21 according to this embodiment is configured by coating an organic photoconductor layer on the outside of an aluminum cylinder, and is rotatably supported by the developing frame 24. Further, by transmitting a driving force of a driving motor (not shown) to one end of the photosensitive drum 21 at the rear of the drawing, the photosensitive drum 21 is rotated counterclockwise in the drawing according to an image forming operation.

[Intermediate transfer member]
The intermediate transfer member 35 rotates in the clockwise direction in synchronization with the outer peripheral speed of the photosensitive drum 21 in order to multiplex-transfer the toner image on the photosensitive drum 21 visualized in each process cartridge 2 during the image forming operation. To do.

  The intermediate transfer member 35 is supported by the image forming apparatus B main body with the driving roller 31 as a fulcrum. The intermediate transfer body 35 is rotated in the clockwise direction in accordance with the image forming operation by transmitting a driving force of a driving motor (not shown) to one end of the driving roller 31 at the rear of the drawing.

[Primary transfer section]
The primary transfer portions T1 (T1Y, T1M, T1C, T1K) transfer toner images formed on the photosensitive drums 21Y, 21M, 21C, 21K to primary transfer rollers 34Y, 34M, 34C, 34K to which a voltage is applied. Thus, the multiple transfer is performed on the intermediate transfer body 35. The primary transfer rollers 34Y, 34M, 34C, and 34K are provided at positions facing the respective photosensitive drums 21Y, 21M, 21C, and 21K with the intermediate transfer member 35 interposed therebetween.

[Secondary transfer section]
The secondary transfer portion T2 is a place where the color toner image multiple-transferred onto the intermediate transfer member 35 is transferred to the recording medium P by the secondary transfer roller 51 to which a voltage is applied. The transfer roller 51 is formed by winding a metal shaft with a medium-resistance foamed elastic body, and can move in a substantially vertical direction in the drawing. The transfer roller 51 is rotated counterclockwise in the figure by a drive motor (not shown).

[Image forming operation]
Next, an operation when image formation is performed by the printer configured as described above will be described.

  First, the sheet feeding roller 41 is rotated to separate one recording medium P in the sheet feeding cassette 4 and conveyed to the registration roller 44. On the other hand, the photosensitive drum 21 and the intermediate transfer member 35 rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow at a predetermined outer peripheral speed V (hereinafter referred to as process speed).

  The photosensitive drum 21 whose surface is uniformly charged by the charging roller 23 is exposed to the laser 10 to form a latent image.

  Specifically, in the process cartridge 2Y, based on the image information, a yellow image laser 10Y is irradiated from the scanner unit 1Y onto the photosensitive drum 21Y to form a latent image corresponding to the yellow color. Along with the formation of the latent image, the developing roller 22Y is driven to develop the latent image on the photosensitive drum 21Y with yellow toner, so that a voltage having the same polarity as the charging polarity of the photosensitive drum 21Y is applied to the developing roller 22Y. Apply. Thereafter, the yellow toner image on the photosensitive drum 21 is primarily transferred onto the outer periphery of the intermediate transfer member 35 at the primary transfer portion T1Y downstream of the developing portion. At this time, a voltage having a characteristic opposite to that of the yellow toner is applied to the intermediate transfer member 35.

  Thereafter, in the image forming positions of the process cartridges 2M, 2C, and 2K, toner images of respective colors are formed on the respective photosensitive drums in the same manner as the yellow toner image described above. Then, the toner images of the respective colors are sequentially superimposed and transferred at the primary transfer portions T1M, T1C, and T1K so as to coincide with the leading end of the yellow toner image transferred to the outer periphery of the intermediate transfer body 35, thereby forming a full color image. At this time, the transfer roller 51 is not in contact with the intermediate transfer member 35.

  Further, before the transfer of the black toner image to the intermediate transfer body 35 is completed, that is, the primary transfer of the black toner of the fourth color is finished, the front end of the full color image on the intermediate transfer body 35 reaches the secondary transfer portion T2. The recording medium P that has been waiting by the registration roller 44 before is started to be conveyed at a predetermined timing.

  Then, the transfer roller 51 is moved upward by a cam (not shown), and the recording medium P is pressed by the secondary transfer portion T2 of the intermediate transfer body 35, and at the same time, a bias having a reverse characteristic to the toner is applied to the transfer roller 51. As a result, the full-color image on the intermediate transfer body 35 is simultaneously transferred to the recording medium P in four colors. The recording medium P that has passed through the secondary transfer portion T2 is peeled off from the intermediate transfer member 35 and conveyed to the fixing unit 6. Thereafter, the toner image is fixed on the recording medium P by the fixing unit 6, and the recording medium P is discharged onto the discharge tray 56 at the upper part of the image forming apparatus B main body via the discharge roller pair 53, 54, 55. Then, the image forming operation is completed.

  Next, each configuration according to the first embodiment will be described in detail.

[Opening and closing cover]
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the open / close cover of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is open, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the open / close cover 7 is closed, and FIG. It is the schematic sectional drawing which showed the structure of the link mechanism which connects the opening / closing cover and holding member which concern on Example 1. FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the opening / closing cover 7 is provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus B, and the intermediate transfer belt unit 3 is accommodated inside thereof. Then, the cartridge 2 and the intermediate transfer belt unit 3 can be accessed by rotating and opening the opening / closing cover 7 clockwise around a rotation shaft 70 provided in the lower part of the image forming apparatus B.

[Holding member]
As shown in FIG. 6, the holding members 8 (the right holding member 8a and the left holding member 8b) hold a plurality of cartridges 2 in a detachable manner. In the present embodiment, the configuration of the holding member composed of the left and right separate members will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the configuration may be adopted in which the right holding member 8a and the left holding member 8b are connected and integrated. good.

  The holding member 8 is provided on the left and right side plates of the image forming apparatus B main body. Further, by attaching the swing fulcrums 80a and 80b to the upper side of the left and right side plates, an attachment / detachment position β (see FIG. 3) for attaching and detaching the cartridge 2 around the swing fulcrums 80a and 80b and an image on which the cartridge 2 forms an image. The holding member 8 is supported and swings with respect to the main body of the image forming apparatus B between the formation position α (see FIG. 4).

  Further, the holding member 8 has guide ribs 81a and 81b provided to support the lower side of the cartridge 2 and smoothly insert the cartridge 2 when the cartridge 2 is inserted. In addition, the drive transmission part on the drive side of the cartridge 2 and the positioning bearing part on the non-drive side have openings 84a and 84b provided so as not to interfere with the holding member.

[Link mechanism between holding member and open / close cover]
As shown in FIG. 5, the image forming apparatus B according to the first embodiment includes a link mechanism that connects the holding member so as to swing in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the opening and closing cover provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus B. ing.

  Specifically, the opening / closing cover 7 and the holding member 8 are coupled to each other by two link members (first link 71 and second link 72).

  One end 71 a of the first link 71 is rotatably connected to the opening / closing cover 7, and the connecting portion 71 b, which is the other end, is rotatably connected to the second link 72. The second link 72 has a connecting portion 72b at one end thereof rotatably connected to the first link 71, and a connecting portion 72a at the other end rotatably connected to the holding member 8. Yes.

  By the link mechanism including the link member as described above, the holding member 8 opens and closes two positions, an image forming position α (a state where the open / close cover 7 is closed) and an attachment / detachment position β (a state where the open / close cover is opened). It can swing in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the cover.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the open / close cover 7 is closed during image formation, and each cartridge 2 is stored in the image forming apparatus B in the vertical vertical direction while being held by the holding member 8. Has been. Holding member 8 and the cartridge 2 from the fulcrum 80 of the holding member 8 and the relationship of each gravity center position, and has a rotational force in the counterclockwise direction. Therefore, by urging the holding member 8 in the direction opposite to the rotational force by the lock lever 82 and the lock spring 83, the holding member 8 and the cartridge 2 are prevented from moving, and the position and posture of the cartridge 2 are stabilized. Can be held. At this time, the bearing position of the bearing of the photosensitive drum 21 of the cartridge 2 is determined by the abutting member 90 disposed on the left and right side plates.

Next, a case where the opening / closing cover 7 is opened will be described. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state immediately before the opening / closing cover is opened and the holding member starts to move.

As shown in FIG. 8, for example, when the opening / closing cover 7 is opened in order to replace the cartridge 2, one end 71 a of the first link 71 is pulled by the opening / closing cover 7, and the opening / closing cover 7 moves in the opening direction. To do. On the other hand, the second link 72 is pulled in the direction in which the opening / closing cover 7 is opened by the connecting portions 71b, 72b of the first link 71 moving in the direction in which the opening / closing cover 7 is opened. However, the lock lever 82 is preventing movement of the holding member 8, the connecting portion 72a of the holding member 8 remain stationary and rotary motion in a counterclockwise direction. As a result, when the opening / closing cover 7 is slightly opened, the positions and postures of the holding member 8 and the cartridge 2 remain held at the image forming position α.

  In the first embodiment, when the opening / closing cover 7 is opened, the cutting operation of the drive transmission means 26 that transmits the drive to the cartridge 2 is also performed during the time until the holding member 8 starts to swing.

  FIG. 9 is a partial schematic view showing a coupling connection state of the photosensitive drum, and FIG. 10 is a partial schematic view showing a coupling cut state of the photosensitive drum.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, in the first embodiment, a coupling 26 is employed as a drive transmission means to the cartridge 2. The coupling 26a on the main body side of the image forming apparatus B can be moved in the illustrated horizontal direction by connecting / disconnecting means 27 using a cam shape disposed on the main body of the image forming apparatus. The coupling 26a engages with the coupling 26b on the cartridge 2 side during image formation to transmit driving force (FIG. 9). Further, when the opening / closing cover 7 is opened, such as when the cartridge 2 is replaced or jammed, the coupling 26a on the apparatus body side is retracted by the connecting / disconnecting means 27 to release the coupling 26 (FIG. 10). The holding member 8 can be moved to the cartridge attaching / detaching position β without any problem.

  FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a link mechanism, a rack, and a gear train of means for disconnecting and connecting the drive to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum according to the first embodiment and an opening / closing cover.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the movement of the second link 72 is used as an operating force for operating the connecting / disconnecting means 27 for releasing the coupling 26 during the time until the holding member 8 starts moving. is doing. The rack 28 is moved horizontally by the operation in which the second link 72 rotates around the connecting portion 72a. The horizontally moving rack 28 meshes with a gear train 29 connected to the connecting / disconnecting means 27, and the rotation of the gear train 29 is transmitted to the cam 27a of the connecting / disconnecting means so that the cam 27a rotates and the cam 27b is shown in the horizontal direction in the figure. Move in the direction to release the coupling 26a.

  Accordingly, the coupling 26 can be released while the opening / closing cover 7 opens in any case, such as when the power is turned off during the image forming operation, and the operation reliability of the opening / closing cover 7 can be improved. .

When the opening / closing cover 7 is further opened, the first link 71 is pulled by the opening / closing cover 7 and further moves in the direction of the opening / closing cover 7, and the second link 72 moves from the rotational movement toward the opening / closing cover 7. Change to move. By the second link 71 changes the movement of the cover 7 direction, the acting force to pull the connecting portion 72a acts between the holding member 8, the holding member 8 against the force of the lock lever 82, the counterclockwise direction And rotate. When the opening / closing cover 7 is fully opened, the holding member 8 and the cartridge 2 are held at the attachment / detachment position β protruding from the inside of the apparatus main body, and the user can easily attach / detach the cartridge 2 (FIG. 3).

  As described above, the holding member 8 is configured to hold the four cartridges 2 and swing in association with the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing cover at the two positions of the attachment / detachment position β and the image forming position α.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus B according to the first embodiment, the lock member 91 and the urging spring 92 for pressing and fixing each cartridge 2 are arranged in a state where the cartridge 2 is stored in the image forming position α. Yes. As a result, even if an external force such as the reading means 86 is subsequently applied to the cartridge 2 or the drive is transmitted during the image forming operation, the cartridge 2 is always fixed at the image forming position (abutting against the abutting member 90). State).

[Storage means and reading means]
FIG. 12 is an external perspective view of a process cartridge provided with a storage unit according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 12, an IC memory 85 as storage means for storing information unique to each cartridge 2 is disposed on the back side of the cartridge 2. As information unique to the cartridge 2, for example, the number of times used, the lot number and properties of the member being used (photosensitive drum and toner lot number), reference process conditions, and the like are recorded.

  The IC memory 85 has a contact surface 85a formed of a conductive material in order to contact and communicate information with a contact member 87 (described later) provided on the image forming apparatus B main body side. Information is read from the IC memory 85 from the IC memory 85 by the reading means 86 provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus B. Specifically, in the reading unit 86, the contact member 87 provided in the reading unit 86 comes into contact with the contact surface 85a to perform electrical data communication, and performs writing and reading.

  By managing the cartridge information in this way, for example, various process conditions such as charging current value switching and exposure amount adjustment can be changed. Therefore, good image formation can be performed over a long period of time.

Further, if the contact between the IC memory 85 and the reading means 86 is separated even for a moment during the communication of information, a data communication error may occur. However, as described above, when the opening / closing cover 7 is slightly opened, the positions and postures of the holding member 8 and the cartridge 2 are held at the image forming position α. Therefore, even when the opening / closing cover 7 is opened during information communication, the contact between the IC memory 85 and the reading means 86 is maintained in a stable state. Further, when the opening / closing cover 7 is opened even a little, the interlock switch 73 of the apparatus main body is activated, and the electrical connection is released when the interlock switch 73 is activated. Therefore, in any case, since the physical contact is always released after the electrical connection is released, the communication state between the reading means 86 and the IC memory 85 can be kept good.

  Also, if communication becomes unstable, cartridge information cannot be managed, and image defects may occur. For example, one factor that makes communication unstable is that the contact surface 85a of the IC memory 85 is contaminated with toner or the like, or a contaminant such as an oxide film adheres. In such a case, it can be considered that communication cannot be performed even though the contact member and the contact surface are in contact with each other without any problem.

  Therefore, in the first embodiment, even when the surface of the contact surface 85a is temporarily contaminated with toner or the like, the contact member 87 is configured to move while being in contact with the contact surface 85a of the IC memory 85. The surface of the surface 85a can be wiped.

  FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a contact state between the contact member and the contact surface according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 13, the contact member 87 rubs the contact surface while moving when contacting the contact surface 85a, and wipes the surface layer of the contact surface 85a. For this reason, the contaminated portion attached to the rubbing portion 85b of the contact surface 85a is removed, and subsequent communication can be performed stably.

[Contact surface swing trajectory]
Next, the locus of the cartridge 2 and the contact surface 85a provided on the cartridge 2 when the opening / closing cover 7 is closed will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, when the holding member 8 is at the attachment / detachment position β, the cartridge 2 is attached / detached, and the opening / closing cover 7 is closed to move the cartridge 2 to the image formation position α. Complete the preparation. Accordingly, the cartridge 2 moves to the image forming position α while drawing a trajectory that rotates about the swing fulcrum 80 of the holding member 8. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14, the contact surface 85 a approaches and comes into contact with the contact member 87 from below.

[Reading means]
Next, the configuration and relationship of the reading unit 86 provided in the image forming apparatus B main body will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus B main body includes a plurality of reading units 86. Each of the reading means 86 is provided with a contact member 87, and further, a swing fulcrum 87b for movably supporting the contact member in order to secure a contact pressure at the tip end portion 87a in contact with the IC memory 85. I have. Therefore, the contact member 87 can be pushed from the unloaded position to the position where communication is possible while contacting the cartridge 2. In this case, the tip end portion 87a of the contact member 87 draws a locus that rotates (moves) around the swing fulcrum 87b. In the first embodiment, the plurality of swing fulcrums (support portions) 87b are opposite to the swing fulcrum 80 of the holding member 8 across the swing locus of the contact surface 85a and the locus of movement of the contact member 87. On the side.

Therefore, the locus of rocking of the contact surface 85a is different from the locus of movement of the contact member 87, and the contact member 87 moves while being in contact with the contact surface 85a of the IC memory 85. Further, the contact surface 85a is wiped while the contact point between the contact surface 85a and the contact member 87 is shifted after the contact is started. For this reason, the contaminated portion attached to the rubbing portion 85b of the contact surface 85a is removed, and subsequent communication can be performed stably. In this way, by making the swing or movement trajectories of the two members in contact different, the other member moves relative to one member, so that the surface on which the contaminant has adhered is surely attached. Can be wiped off.

  As described in the first embodiment, the cartridge 2 and the contact member 87 are configured to swing. When attention is paid to the trajectory immediately before the cartridge 2 reaches the image forming position α, the trajectory is different between the upper cartridge 2 near the swing fulcrum 80 and the lower cartridge 2 far from the swing fulcrum 80. Therefore, the locus of the contact surface 85a of the IC memory 85 provided in each cartridge 2 is also different for each cartridge 2.

  Therefore, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, for the cartridges 2C and 2K in which the contact surface 85a moves close to the swing fulcrum 80 and moves upward from below, the swing fulcrum 87bC of the contact members 87C and 87K, It arrange | positions so that 87bK may become below the front-end | tip parts 87aC and 87aK. On the other hand, for the cartridges 2Y and 2M that are separated from the swing fulcrum 80 and the contact surface 85a moves substantially horizontally, the swing fulcrums 87bY and 87bM of the contact members 87Y and 87M are above the tip portions 87aY and 87aM. Arrange as follows. That is, among the plurality of swing fulcrums 87b, at least the swing fulcrums 87bC and 87bK close to the swing fulcrum 80 of the holding member 8 are held with respect to the swing trajectory of the contact surface 85a and the trajectory of movement of the contact member 87. The support portions 87bY and 87bM other than the close support portions 87bC and 87bK are provided on the opposite side of the swing support point 80. With this configuration, the swing trajectories of the cartridge 2 and the contact member 87 do not coincide with each other, and the contact surface 85a of the IC memory 85 can be wiped by the operation of storing each cartridge 2 in the image forming position α. For this reason, since the tip end portion 87a of the contact member 87 comes into contact with the contact surface 85a which is wiped and exposed, the communication state between the IC memory 85 and the image forming apparatus B main body can be kept good.

  Further, the cartridge 2 is configured to be pushed from the image forming position α by an amount corresponding to the overstroke when set, and to move slightly when set completely. Therefore, since the tip end portion 87a of the contact member 87 can be reliably brought into contact with the rubbing portion 85b that has been rubbed and exposed, the reliability of communication can be improved.

  For the cartridges 2C and 2K in which the contact surface 85a moves from the bottom to the top near the swing fulcrum 80, the swing fulcrums 87bC and 87bK of the contact members 87C and 87K are located above the tip portions 87aC and 87aK. The locus of swinging of the contact members 87C and 87K swings downward from the contact point between the contact surface 85a and the contact member 87. For this reason, the contact member 87 bites into the contact surface 85a, a stress more than expected is applied to the contact portion, and the contact member 87 cannot be smoothly rotated. Therefore, it is desirable from this point of view that the swing fulcrums 87bC and 87bK of the contact members 87C and 87K are located below the tip portions 87aC and 87aK.

  Further, by optimizing the positional relationship between the swing fulcrum 87b and the tip end portion 87a of each contact member 87, even when the contact surface 85a of the IC memory 85 contacts the contact member 87 while drawing different trajectories. The same contact member 87 can be used.

  Furthermore, since the amount of each wipe can be adjusted to be substantially the same, there is no difference in reaction force depending on the place, and the operability of the holding member 8 is also stabilized.

  The embodiment described above is summarized as follows.

In the electrophotographic image forming apparatus B in which a plurality of process cartridges 2 having the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 21 can be attached and detached,
A plurality of process cartridges 2 are detachably held, and a holding member that swings with respect to the apparatus main body between an attachment / detachment position β at which the process cartridge 2 is attached / detached and an image forming position at which the process cartridge 2 forms an image. 8 and
A swing fulcrum 80 that supports the holding member 8 in a swingable manner;
A plurality of reading means 86 for reading the information from the storage means 85 for storing the information of the process cartridge 2 provided in the process cartridge 2;
A plurality of contact members 87 respectively provided in the reading means 86 and moving while contacting the contact surface 85a of the storage means 85 in conjunction with the swinging of the holding member 8;
A plurality of support portions 87b for movably supporting the contact members 87,
The electrophotographic image forming apparatus B is characterized in that the locus of swing of the contact surface 85a and the locus of movement of the contact member 87 are different.

  The plurality of support portions 87b are preferably provided on the side opposite to the swing fulcrum 80 across the swing trajectory of the contact surface 85a and the trajectory of movement of the contact member 87. .

  Further, among the plurality of support portions 87b, at least the support portions 87bK and 87bC near the swing support point 80 are swung with respect to the swing locus of the contact surface 85a and the locus of movement of the contact member 87. It is preferable that the support portions 87bM and 87bY other than the close support portion are provided on the opposite side of the swing support point 80.

  Further, since the locus of the plurality of process cartridges 2 swinging to the image forming position α by the holding member 8 is different from the swing locus of the contact member 87 of each reading means 86, the contact surface 85a and the contact point are different. It is preferable that the contact surface 85a is wiped while the contact point with the member 87 is shifted from the start of contact to reach the normal position.

  In addition, it is preferable to include link mechanisms 71 and 72 that are connected so that the holding member 8 swings in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the opening and closing cover 7 provided in the apparatus main body.

It is sectional drawing which showed the rotation locus | trajectory of the cartridge and the contact member in Example 1 of this invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an overall configuration of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which an opening / closing cover of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is opened. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which an opening / closing cover of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is closed. It is the schematic sectional drawing which showed the structure of the link mechanism which connects the opening / closing cover and holding member which concern on Example 1 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the holding member which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. It is sectional drawing which showed the state which has a holding member in an image formation position in Example 1 of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows a state just before an opening-and-closing cover opens and a holding member begins to move. It is a partial schematic diagram showing a coupling connection state of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. It is a partial schematic diagram showing a coupling cut state of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a link mechanism, a rack, and a gear train of means for disconnecting and connecting a drive to an electrophotographic photosensitive drum according to Embodiment 1 and an opening / closing cover. 1 is an external perspective view of a process cartridge provided with a storage unit according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is the perspective view which showed the contact state of the contact member which concerns on Example 1 of this invention, and a contact surface. It is the schematic diagram which showed an example of the rotation locus | trajectory of a cartridge and a contact member. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the conventional color image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1 (1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K) Scanner unit 2 (2Y, 2M, 2C, 2K) Cartridge 3 Intermediate transfer belt unit 7 Open / close cover 8 (8a, 8b) Holding member 21 (21Y, 21M, 21C, 21K) Photosensitive Body drum 22 developing roller 23 charging roller 24 developing frame body 26 drive transmission means 27 connecting / disconnecting means 27a cam 27b cam 28 rack 29 gear train 31 drive roller 35 intermediate transfer body 70 rotating shaft 71, 72 link 73 interlock switch 80 ( 80a, 80b) Oscillation fulcrum 82 Lock lever 83 Lock spring 85 Memory 85a Contact surface 85b Sliding part 86 Reading means 87 Contact member 87a Tip end part 87b Oscillation fulcrum (support part)
A, B Electrophotographic image forming apparatus P Recording medium T1 Primary transfer portion T2 Secondary transfer portion α Image forming position β Detachable position

Claims (1)

In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which a plurality of process cartridges having an electrophotographic photosensitive drum can be attached and detached,
An opening / closing cover provided so as to be movable between an open state and a closed state with respect to the apparatus main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus;
Linked to the movement of the cover, a holding member for detachably holding a plurality of said process cartridge, taking a detachable position at which the cover is detached the process cartridge in the open state the said cover is the A holding member that swings relative to the apparatus main body so as to take an image forming position where the process cartridge performs image formation in the closed state ;
A storage means for storing information of the process cartridge provided in each of the process cartridges;
A plurality of reading means for communicating information between the storage means and the apparatus main body when the holding member takes the image forming position, the contact surface of the storage means being interlocked with the swinging of the holding member A plurality of contact members provided in each of the plurality of reading means, and a plurality of contact members that are movably supported by a movement trajectory different from the swing trajectory of the contact surface. A plurality of reading means, and a plurality of reading means,
A lock lever that engages with the holding member to hold the holding member in the image forming position, and a lock lever that can be disengaged from the holding member;
An interlock switch that operates by moving the opening / closing cover from the closed state, and an interlock switch that releases communication of information between the storage unit and the apparatus body by operating;
A link member that connects the opening / closing cover and the holding member, one end of which is rotatably connected to the opening / closing cover, and one end of which is rotatably connected to the first link. A second link pivotally connected to the holding member at the other end, and the lock lever is moved by the movement of the open / close cover from the closed state to the open state. After the interlock switch is operated in a state where it is engaged with the holding member, the opening / closing cover is further moved in the opened state in conjunction with the first link and the second link. The holding member is swung in the direction of the attachment / detachment position to
A link member configured to disengage from the hook lever;
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising:

Images