JP5120766B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  In an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copier that employs an electrophotographic method, the surface of a photosensitive drum as an image holding member is charged to a predetermined potential, and then subjected to image exposure according to image information to form an electrostatic latent image. The toner image is visualized by supplying toner (visible agent) to the electrostatic latent image, and the toner image is directly transferred onto a sheet (sheet) and then fixed by a fixing device. Then, after being transferred onto a sheet via an intermediate transfer member, the image is formed by fixing with a fixing device.

  The fixing device used in the image forming apparatus having such a configuration includes a pair of fixing means (for example, a heating rotator such as a heating roll having a heating source therein and a pressure rotator such as a pressure roll and a pressure belt) ), And the unfixed toner image is transferred onto the sheet by passing the sheet on which the unfixed toner image is transferred through a nip portion (press-contact section) formed by pressing the fixing units together. Fix by heat and pressure.

  Some fixing devices include a lever (operation means) for releasing the nip. When a jam (paper jam) occurs at or near the fixing device, the heating rotator is operated by operating the lever from the normal nip pressure position (pressure contact position) to the nip release position (pressure contact release position). By releasing the mutual pressure contact state between the rotary member and the pressure rotating body, it is possible to remove the paper that causes the jam.

  Here, for example, when the device is not used for a long period of time after the product is shipped to the user's hand, if the heating rotator and the pressure rotator are kept in pressure contact with each other, Alternatively, both of the rotating bodies are plastically deformed by the pressing force, and a part thereof is flattened. When image formation is performed in a state where the rotating body is deformed, so-called nip marks appear in the formed image with light and shade at the period of the rotating body. In addition, abnormal noise is periodically generated during operation due to deformation of the rotating body, and sometimes causes failure of the apparatus.

  In order to prevent such deformation of the rotating body, the lever is fixed at a nip releasing position where the rotating body is in a pressure released state when the product is shipped, and when in use, the user releases the lever to a nip pressure position. There has been proposed an image forming apparatus in which a heating rotator and a pressure rotator are brought into pressure contact with each other.

  Examples of such an image forming apparatus include those described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-154526 (Patent Document 1) and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-229373 (Patent Document 2).

The image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 sets a third position (pressure release position during transportation) different from the nip pressurization position and nip release position as the lever position, and releases the nip during transportation. ing. The image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 2 fixes the lever at the nip release position, applies the shipping spacer to the lever, and pulls the string attached to the shipping spacer when the user unpacks the lever so that the lever is in the nip pressurization position. It is trying to become.
JP 2001-154526 A JP 2002-229373 A

  Here, if the lever is set to the nip release position at the time of product shipment and is set to the nip pressure position at the time of use, deformation of the rotating body due to long-term non-use is prevented. However, in the use stage, if the user moves the lever to the nip release position in order to eliminate the above-mentioned jam and then restarts printing without forgetting to return to the nip pressurization position, the nip force is not applied or is not effective. Printing is executed in a sufficient state, and printing defects such as fixing defects may occur.

  The present invention has been made from the above technical background, and in an image forming apparatus, the fixing unit is prevented from being deformed when pressed for a long period of time, and the fixing unit is in a pressed release state during printing. It aims at preventing becoming.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention is provided so as to be displaceable between a press-contact state and a press-release state in which the press-contact state is released, and the sheet is passed through the press-contact portion. A fixing unit that fixes the visual agent on the sheet; and a second position that allows the printing to be performed in a press-contact state at the first position where self-holding is possible, and is moved in a predetermined direction from the first position. The fixing means is brought into the pressure released state at the position of 3 and a third force having a displacement force to the first position by moving from the first position toward the second position or a direction different from the second position. An operation unit that brings the fixing unit into a pressure released state at a position, and moves the fixing unit into a pressure released state at a self-holdable fourth position that has moved in a direction different from the second position from the first position. And the fixing means and the The first opening / closing mode in which the operating means is left on the apparatus main body side and the two opening / closing modes of the second opening / closing mode with the fixing means and the operating means are selectively attached to the apparatus main body, When closed in the first opening / closing mode, the operating unit located in the second position interferes with the operating unit and is displaced to the first position, and when closed in the second opening / closing mode, the fourth position is set. A lid member that causes the operation means to interfere with the apparatus main body to displace the operation means to the first position, and is detachably mounted between the apparatus main body and the operation means, and resists the displacement force. And a holding member for holding the operating means in the third position.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the apparatus main body includes a movement direction of the operation means in the holding member mounted between the apparatus main body and the operation means. A restricting portion for restricting movement in the intersecting direction is formed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the holding member includes a first contact surface on which the operation means is pressed and a first contact surface. A second contact surface located on the opposite side and pressed against the apparatus main body by the displacement force of the operating means, and a position protruding from both sides of the first contact surface in the opposite direction to the second contact surface And a third contact surface in contact with a surface opposite to the surface with which the second contact surface in the apparatus body contacts.

The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the holding member is made of a material having a lower elastic modulus than the holding member mounting portion of the apparatus main body and the operation means. It is characterized by being.

The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the holding member is made of foamed polyethylene.

The invention of claim 6 is the invention according to any one of the claims 1 to 5, wherein the retaining member is pulling member capable pulled by an external force is attached, characterized in that.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, a traction member that can be pulled by an external force is attached to the holding member, and the attachment position of the traction member on the holding member is the first position. It is between a contact surface and said 2nd contact surface, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to claim 6 or 7 , wherein the pulling member is attached with a notice stating that the holding member is to be removed at the start of use of the image forming apparatus. It is characterized by that.

The invention according to claim 9 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , wherein the holding member is fitted into the apparatus main body.

The invention according to claim 10 is the invention according to claim 9 , wherein the holding member is in the first position when the lid member moves in the closing direction in the second opening / closing mode. An interference portion that interferes with the operation means and prevents the lid member from closing is formed.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, deformation accompanying the mutual pressure contact of the fixing means when not in use for a long period of time is prevented, and the fixing means is prevented from being released from the pressure contact state during printing.

According to the second aspect of the invention, as compared with the case not employing the configuration according to this aspect, since the direction of movement intersecting the moving direction of the operating means in the holding member is restricted, the holding member is hardly fall off, long Deformation of the fixing means can be prevented more reliably when the period is not used.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the movement of the holding member in the moving direction centering on the operating means is restricted as compared with the case where the present configuration is not adopted, so that the holding member is less likely to fall off, and for a long time. Deformation of the fixing means is prevented more reliably when not in use.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, compared to a case where this configuration is not adopted, it is possible to prevent the wear pieces of the apparatus from being generated or further damaged by the holding member, in particular, the operating means.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, compared to the case where the present configuration is not adopted, generation of wear pieces and dust from the holding member or the operating means or the apparatus main body in contact with the holding member is eliminated, and as a result It is possible to prevent malfunction of the apparatus and image quality deterioration associated therewith.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, compared to the case where this configuration is not adopted, the presence of the pulling member prevents the user from forgetting to remove the holding member, and the holding member can be easily pulled only by pulling the pulling member. Can be removed.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the holding member can be smoothly removed without any interference with the lever or the like simply by pulling the pulling member.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the removal of the holding member can be alerted to the user as compared with the case where the present configuration is not adopted, and the reminder can be more reliably aroused particularly when the notice is placed in a conspicuous place when unpacking. .

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, even when the lid member is opened in the second opening / closing mode, the holding member does not fall into the inside of the apparatus, so that the apparatus can be prevented from being damaged.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, forgetting to remove the holding member at the start of use can be prevented as compared with the case where this configuration is not adopted.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment as an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that components having the same function are denoted by the same reference symbols throughout the drawings for describing the embodiment, and the repetitive description thereof will be omitted.

  (Embodiment 1)

  1 is a conceptual diagram showing an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1 with a front cover opened, and FIG. 3 is an image forming apparatus of FIG. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the process cartridge of FIG.

  The illustrated image forming apparatus 1 is a tandem type full-color printer, and each photosensitive drum (image carrier) 11, 12, 13 for yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). , 14, image forming units 1, 2, 3, 4, and charging rolls (charging means) 21, 22, 23, 24 for primary charging that are in contact with or close to the photosensitive drums 11, 12, 13, 14, , Yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) laser beams 31, 32, 33, and 34 are irradiated onto the photosensitive drums 11, 12, 13, and 14. A laser optical unit (latent image writing means) 63 for forming a latent image, and developing devices (developing means) 41, 42, 43 for forming toner images by supplying toner (visible agent) to the formed electrostatic latent image. , 44 and four light exposures The first primary intermediate transfer drum (intermediate transfer member) 51 that contacts two of the drums 11, 12, 13, and 14 and the second photosensitive drums 13 and 14 that contact the other two photosensitive drums 13 and 14. 2 primary intermediate transfer drum (intermediate transfer body) 52, secondary intermediate transfer drum (intermediate transfer body) 53 in contact with the first and second primary intermediate transfer drums 51 and 52, and this secondary intermediate transfer drum 53. The transfer roller (transfer member) 60 that is in contact with the main part constitutes the main part.

  In this embodiment, in order to improve maintainability, a process cartridge (developing devices 41, 42, 43, 44, photosensitive drums 11, 12, 13, 14, intermediate transfer drums 51, 52, 53, etc.) An image forming unit 92 is replaceably disposed in the housing 100a of the printer main body (apparatus main body) 100.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the photosensitive drums 11, 12, 13, and 14 are arranged in parallel to each other at a predetermined interval so as to have a common tangential plane M. Further, the first primary intermediate transfer drum 51 and the second primary intermediate transfer drum 52 have their rotational axes parallel to the rotational axes of the photosensitive drums 11, 12, 13, and 14 and have a predetermined symmetry plane as a boundary. They are arranged so as to have a plane symmetry relationship. Further, the secondary intermediate transfer drum 53 is arranged so that the rotation axis thereof is parallel to the photosensitive drums 11, 12, 13, and 14.

  Signals corresponding to the image information for each color are rasterized by an image processing unit (not shown) and input to the laser optical unit 63 shown in FIGS. In the laser optical unit 63, the laser beams 31, 32, 33, and 34 of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are modulated in accordance with image information, and the corresponding colors. The photosensitive drums 11, 12, 13, and 14 are irradiated to write an electrostatic latent image.

  Around each of the photosensitive drums 11, 12, 13, and 14, an image forming process for each color is executed by a known electrophotographic method.

  First, as the photosensitive drums 11, 12, 13, and 14, for example, drums using an OPC photosensitive member having a diameter of 20 mm are used. These photosensitive drums 11, 12, 13, and 14 are, for example, 95 mm / mm. It is rotationally driven at a rotational speed of sec. As shown in FIG. 3, the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 11, 12, 13, and 14 are applied with a DC voltage of about −800 V to charging rolls 21, 22, 23, and 24 as contact-type charging means. For example, it is charged to about -300V. The contact type charging means includes a roll type, a film type, a brush type, etc., but any type may be used. In this embodiment, a charging roll generally used in an electrophotographic apparatus in recent years is employed. Further, in order to charge the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 11, 12, 13, and 14, in this embodiment, a charging method in which only DC is applied is used, but a charging method in which AC + DC is applied may be used.

  Thereafter, the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 11, 12, 13, and 14 correspond to yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) colors by a laser optical unit 63 as an exposure unit. Laser beams 31, 32, 33, and 34 are irradiated to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to input image information for each color. When the electrostatic latent image is written by the laser optical unit 63, the surface potential of the image exposure portion of the photosensitive drums 11, 12, 13, and 14 is neutralized to about −60V or less.

  The electrostatic latent images corresponding to the respective colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) formed on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 11, 12, 13, and 14 correspond. Developed (toner supplied) by the color developing devices 41, 42, 43, and 44, and yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) on the photosensitive drums 11, 12, 13, and 14 Are visualized as toner images of the respective colors.

  In this embodiment, as the developing devices 41, 42, 43, and 44, a magnetic brush contact type two-component developing method is adopted. However, the developing device is not limited to this developing method. Of course, the present invention can be sufficiently applied to other development systems such as a contact development system.

  The developing devices 41, 42, 43, and 44 are filled with two-component developers composed of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toners of different colors and carriers. Has been. When the developing devices 41, 42, 43, and 44 are supplied with toner from the toner cartridges 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the supplied toner is as shown in FIG. The carrier member 404, which is a rotating body in which a spiral groove is formed, is sufficiently agitated with the carrier and frictionally charged. Inside the developing roll 401, a magnet roll (not shown) having a plurality of magnetic poles arranged at a predetermined angle is fixed. By the paddle 403 that conveys the developer to the developing roll 401, the amount of the developer conveyed to the vicinity of the surface of the developing roll 401 is regulated by the developer amount regulating member 402.

  The toner supplied onto the developing roll 401 is in the form of a magnetic brush composed of a carrier and toner by the magnetic force of the magnet roll, and this magnetic brush comes into contact with the photosensitive drums 11, 12, 13, and 14. Yes. A developing bias voltage of AC + DC is applied to the developing roll 401 to develop the toner on the developing roll 401 into an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drums 11, 12, 13, and 14, whereby a toner image is formed. It is formed. In this embodiment, the development bias voltage is about 4 kHz for AC, 1.5 kVpp, and about −230 V for DC.

  Next, the toner images of the respective colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) formed on the respective photosensitive drums 11, 12, 13, and 14 are the first primary intermediate. The secondary transfer is electrostatically performed on the transfer drum 51 and the second primary intermediate transfer drum 52. The yellow (Y) and magenta (M) color toner images formed on the photoconductive drums 11 and 12 are formed on the first primary intermediate transfer drum 51 and cyan (on the photoconductive drums 13 and 14). The toner images of C) and black (K) are transferred onto the second primary intermediate transfer drum 52, respectively. Therefore, on the first primary intermediate transfer drum 51, the single color image transferred from either the photosensitive drum 11 or the photosensitive drum 12, and the two colors transferred from both the photosensitive drum 11 and the photosensitive drum 12. A double color image is formed by superimposing the toner images. In addition, similar single-color images and double-color images are formed on the second primary intermediate transfer drum 52 from the photosensitive drums 13 and 14.

  The surface potential necessary for electrostatically transferring the toner image from the photosensitive drums 11, 12, 13, and 14 onto the first and second primary intermediate transfer drums 51 and 52 is about +250 to 500V. This surface potential is set to an optimum value depending on the charged state of the toner, the ambient temperature, and the humidity. The ambient temperature and humidity are detected by an environmental sensor that detects the ambient temperature and humidity. As described above, when the charge amount of the toner is in the range of −20 to 35 μC / g and is in a normal temperature and humidity environment, the surface potentials of the first and second primary intermediate transfer drums 51 and 52 are + 380V is desirable.

The first and second primary intermediate transfer drums 51 and 52 used in this embodiment have an outer diameter of 42 mm, for example, and a resistance value of about 10 ⁸ Ω. The first and second primary intermediate transfer drums 51 and 52 are cylindrical rotating bodies having a single-layer or multiple-layer surface having flexibility or elasticity, and are generally made of Fe, Al, or the like. A low resistance elastic rubber layer 56 (R = 10 ² to 10 ³ Ω) represented by conductive silicone rubber or the like is provided on a metal pipe 55 as a metal core material to a thickness of about 0.1 to 10 mm. It has been. Further, the outermost surfaces of the first and second intermediate transfer drums 51 and 52 are typically high release layers (R = 10 ⁵ to 10) having a thickness of 3 to 100 μm made of fluororubber in which fluororesin fine particles are dispersed. ⁹ Ω) and bonded with a silane coupling agent adhesive (primer). What is important here is the resistance value and the releasability of the surface, and the resistance value of the high release layer is about R = 10 ⁵ to 10 ⁹ Ω. Not.

  The single-color or double-color toner images formed on the first and second primary intermediate transfer drums 51 and 52 in this way are electrostatically secondary-transferred onto the secondary intermediate transfer drum 53. Therefore, a final toner image from a single color image to a quadruple color image of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) is formed on the secondary intermediate transfer drum 53. Will be.

  The surface potential necessary for electrostatically transferring the toner image from the first and second primary intermediate transfer drums 51 and 52 onto the secondary intermediate transfer drum 53 is about +600 to 1200V. This surface potential is the same as when the toner is transferred from the photosensitive drums 11, 12, 13, 14 to the first primary intermediate transfer drum 51 and the second primary intermediate transfer drum 52. Will be set to the optimum value. Further, since what is necessary for the transfer is a potential difference between the first and second primary intermediate transfer drums 51 and 52 and the secondary intermediate transfer drum 53, the first and second primary intermediate transfer drums 51 and 52 have different potentials. It is necessary to set the value according to the surface potential. As described above, the charge amount of the toner is in the range of -20 to 35 μC / g, the ambient temperature and humidity environment, and the surface potentials of the first and second primary intermediate transfer drums 51 and 52 are about + 380V. In this case, the surface potential of the secondary intermediate transfer drum 53 is about + 880V, that is, the potential difference between the first and second primary intermediate transfer drums 51 and 52 and the secondary intermediate transfer drum 53 is about + 500V. It is desirable to set.

The secondary intermediate transfer drum 53 used in this embodiment has an outer diameter of 42 mm, which is the same as the first and second primary intermediate transfer drums 51 and 52, and has a resistance value of about 10 ¹¹ Ω. The Similarly to the first and second primary intermediate transfer drums 51 and 52, the secondary intermediate transfer drum 53 is a cylindrical rotating body having a single-layer or multiple-layer surface having flexibility or elasticity. In general, a low resistance elastic rubber layer (R = 10 ² to 10 ³ Ω) typified by conductive silicone rubber or the like is formed on a metal pipe as a metal core made of Fe, Al or the like with a thickness of 0. .About 1 to 10 mm. Further, the outermost surface of the secondary intermediate transfer drum 53 is typically formed by forming fluororubber in which fluororesin fine particles are dispersed as a high release layer having a thickness of 3 to 100 μm, and a silane coupling agent-based adhesive ( It is bonded with a primer.

  Here, the resistance value of the secondary intermediate transfer drum 53 needs to be set higher than that of the first and second primary intermediate transfer drums 51 and 52. This is because the secondary intermediate transfer drum 53 charges the first and second primary intermediate transfer drums 51 and 52, and it becomes difficult to control the surface potential of the first and second primary intermediate transfer drums 51 and 52. This is to prevent this. The material is not particularly limited as long as the material satisfies such conditions.

  Next, a final toner image from a single color image to a quadruple color image formed on the secondary intermediate transfer drum 53 is tertiary on a sheet (sheet) P passing through a sheet conveyance path by a final transfer roll 60. Transcribed.

  The sheet P passes through the registration roller 90 through the sheet feeding process from the sheet feeding tray 5 and is fed into the nip portion between the secondary intermediate transfer drum 53 and the transfer roll 60. After this final transfer process, the final toner image formed on the paper P is fixed by heat and pressure by the fixing device 70, and the paper discharge tray 64 provided on the upper portion of the printer main body 100 by the paper discharge roll 730. A series of image forming processes is completed.

  The fixing device 70 presses a pair of fixing means 73 composed of a heating roller 71 having a heating source 701 (FIG. 6) such as a halogen lamp and a pressure belt 72 formed in an endless manner, thereby unfixed. The sheet P on which the toner image is transferred is heated and pressed to fix the unfixed toner image on the sheet P.

The transfer roll 60 has an outer diameter of 20 mm, for example, and a resistance value of about 10 ⁸ Ω. The transfer roll 60 has a semiconductive coating layer made of urethane rubber or the like on a metal shaft, and a tube having a surface microhardness equal to or higher than a value corresponding to a polyimide resin or a polyetherimide resin on the coating layer. It is comprised by covering. Specifically, a tube made of polyimide resin or polyetherimide resin is used. The optimum value of the voltage applied to the transfer roll 60 differs depending on the ambient temperature, humidity, paper type (resistance value, etc.), and is approximately +1200 to 5000V. In this embodiment, a constant current method is employed, and a current of about +10 μA is passed in a normal temperature and humidity environment to obtain a substantially appropriate transfer voltage (+1600 to 2000 V).

  When images are formed on both sides of the paper P, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the paper P on which the image is formed on one side is not directly discharged onto the paper discharge tray 64, but is turned upside down. In this state, the paper P is conveyed again to the transfer section via the double-sided paper conveyance path 7, and an image is formed on the back surface of the paper P.

  In the figure, reference numeral 8 denotes a paper feed roll for conveying paper P supplied from a manual feed tray (not shown), reference numeral 9 denotes a control circuit, and reference numeral 10 denotes a power supply circuit.

  Next, the fixing device 70 provided in the image forming apparatus will be described.

  As described above, the fixing device 70 includes the fixing unit 73 including the heating roller 71 having the heating source 701 therein and the pressure belt 72 formed in an endless manner. The unfixed toner image is fixed on the sheet P by placing the fixing unit 73 in a pressure contact state and heating and pressing the sheet P on which the unfixed toner image is transferred.

  4 is a perspective view showing the appearance of such a fixing device together with the casing of the printer main body, FIG. 5 is a front view of FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AB of FIG. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing the pressure contact structure between the heating roller and the pressure belt, FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an arm member provided in the fixing device, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a lever as an operation means provided in the fixing device.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the fixing device 70 includes a heating roller 71 having a heating source 701 therein, an endless pressure belt 72, and the pressure belt 72 so that the pressure belt 72 is rotatable. A belt guide member 704 that supports both ends in the width direction, and a pressure contact member 705 that is disposed inside the pressure belt 72 and presses the pressure belt 72 against the surface of the heating roller 71.

  The heating roller 71 includes a thin cylindrical cored bar made of iron or stainless steel, an elastic layer made of silicon rubber or the like coated on the surface of the cored bar, and a surface of the elastic layer. It is composed of a release layer having a thickness of about 30 μm made of coated PFA or the like. In addition, one 600 W halogen lamp 701 is disposed inside the heating roller 71 as a heating source.

  Further, the pressure belt 72 is formed in an endless belt shape having an outer diameter of 30 mm and a wall thickness of 75 μm by a synthetic resin such as polyimide, and a release layer made of PFA or the like is provided on the surface as needed. It is done.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the belt guide member 704 is configured to be integrally assembled with the pressure contact member 705.

  In FIG. 7, the pressure contact member 705 includes a belt housing 707 made of synthetic resin, a metal belt frame 708 having a substantially U-shaped cross section that is fitted to the belt housing 707, and a pressure belt 72. The nip head member 709 for press-contacting to 71 and a pad member 710 attached to the nip head member 709 are mainly configured. Further, a synthetic resin film-like sheet member 719 impregnated with oil to reduce friction between the pressure belt 72 and the pressure contact member 705 is provided between the pressure belt 72 and the pressure contact member 705. Is arranged.

  Further, the belt guide member 704 is attached to both end portions of the belt housing 707 in a state where the belt guide member 704 is fitted to fitting portions 708a protruding in parallel with each other at both end portions of the belt frame 708.

  The belt guide member 704 is provided on the opposite side of the cylindrical portion 711 inserted into both ends of the pressure belt 72, and the belt guide member 704 is attached to an arm 717 (FIG. 8) described later. An attachment portion 712 for attachment and two flange portions 713 and 714 provided between the cylindrical portion 711 and the attachment portion 712 are configured. The cylindrical portion 711 of the belt guide member 704 has a part of the outer periphery which is flat. When the pressure belt 72 is pressed against the heating roller 71, the pressure belt 72 is bent to form a nip portion having a predetermined width. It is possible to form. In addition, the belt guide member 704 has a substantially cross-sectional shape that is fitted into a belt frame 708 having a substantially U-shaped cross section and a fitting portion 708a that protrudes in parallel from both ends of the belt frame 708. A U-shaped groove 715 is provided. Further, the belt guide member 704 is provided with a concave groove 716 between the flange portion 713 and the flange portion 714 for fitting with an arm 717 as a pressure member.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the pressure contact member 705 is attached to the arm member 717 via a belt guide member 704, and this arm member 717 is attached to the pressure contact member 705 by a coil spring 718 with a heating roller. 71 (that is, the pressure belt 72 is brought into contact with the heating roller 71 via the pressure contact member 705) with a predetermined pressure. Accordingly, the heating roller 71 and the pressure belt 72 are displaced between a pressure contact state in which the heating roller 71 and the pressure belt 72 are in pressure contact with each other and a pressure release state in which the pressure contact state is released due to the movement of the arm member 717 described later.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the fixing device 70 is installed in the printer main body, and remains on the printer main body 100 side when the front cover (lid member) 101 attached to the printer main body 100 so as to be opened and closed is opened. Exposed. In addition, the pressure contact state between the heating roller 71 and the pressure belt 72 can be released with the front cover 101 opened.

  Here, the open / closed state of the front cover 101 is detected by a sensor (not shown), and when the front cover 101 is in an open state or a half-open state, the printing operation is stopped in consideration of safety or the like. As will be described later, since the lever 726 is moved to the first position by closing the front cover 101, the state where the lever 726 is in the first position is the printable position.

  As described above, the belt guide members 704 provided at both ends of the pressure contact member 705 are fixed to the arm member 717 as a support member. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the arm member 717 is formed in a substantially U-shape on the front surface, and is provided at a mounting portion 720 that is fitted to the belt guide member 704 in a fitted state, and at one end portion of the mounting portion 720. The fulcrum hole 721 for swingably supporting the arm member 717 and the urging portion 722 provided at the end opposite to the fulcrum hole 721 are provided.

  A through hole 724 through which a rod (not shown) provided in the housing 70a of the fixing device 70 passes is formed in the urging portion 722 of the arm member 717, and the fulcrum hole 721 is swung on the rod. A spring 718 for urging the arm member 717 toward the heating roller 71 is attached. Further, the urging portion 722 of the arm member 717 is provided with an arm portion 725 that is bent in the same direction as the attachment portion 720 and then bent outward so as to be orthogonal to the attachment portion 720. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a lever (operation means) 726 attached to the housing 70 a of the fixing device 70 so as to be movable (rotatable) acts on the arm portion 725. The lever 726 is pressed by the arm member 717 swinging toward the heating roller 71 by the spring force of the spring 718 at the first position where the lever 726 can be self-held (substantially horizontal position in FIG. 6). The pressure belt 72 is pressed against the heating roller 71 via the member 705, and in this state, the lever 726 is not in contact with the arm portion 725 of the arm member 717. In addition, the self-holdable second position rotated in a predetermined direction from the first position (the standing position in FIG. 6) and the second position rotated in the opposite direction (different direction). In the third position having a displacement force to the first position (position inclined slightly below the horizontal position in FIG. 6), the spring force of the spring 718 is brought into contact with the arm portion of the arm member 717. On the other hand, the arm member 717 is swung to the opposite side of the heating roller 71 so that the pressure contact member 705 releases the pressure contact force of the pressure belt 72 to the heating roller 71. Therefore, when the front cover 101 that is normally used by the user is closed, the lever 726 is in the first position that is the printable position.

  In the present application, self-holding means that the lever 726 holds its position with the lever 726 itself.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the lever 726 includes an operation portion 726 a that a user picks and operates with a finger at the distal end, and a rotation shaft 751 formed on the housing 70 a of the fixing device 70 at the base end portion. An insertion hole 726b is provided to be rotatably attached to. Further, a flat working surface 726c is formed on the end surface of the base end portion of the lever 726 so as to face the arm portion 725 of the arm member 717 when the lever 726 is set to the first position. On the upper side, when the lever 726 is rotated to the second position, the first release surface 726d that presses the arm portion 725 of the arm member 717 to release the pressure contact state between the heating roller 71 and the pressure belt 72. Is provided via a corner portion 726f. Further, at the lower part of the working surface 726c, the lever 726 is further rotated from the third position in the direction opposite to the first position, thereby pressing the arm portion 725 of the arm member 717, and the heating roller 71 and A second release surface 726e that releases the pressure contact state with the pressure belt 72 is provided via a corner portion 726g.

  When the lever 726 is set to the third position, the corner portion 726g presses the arm portion 725 of the arm member 717 to release the pressure contact state between the heating roller 71 and the pressure belt 72. At this time, since the arm portion 725 is pressed not by the surface but by the corner portion 726g, the lever 726 does not have a self-holding force at the third position but has a displacement force to return to the first position. Become.

  The second release surface 726e is a self-holding fourth member that rotates the lever 726 in the direction opposite to the second position (different direction) from the first position in the second embodiment to be described later. Therefore, it may not be provided in the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the lever 726 is formed in the same shape on the left and right, but the shape of the rotation shaft 751 formed in the housing 70 a of the fixing device 70 and the shape of the insertion hole 726 b of the lever 726 corresponding thereto. Are different from each other on the left and right, and erroneous mounting of the lever 726 in the wrong direction is prevented.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 11, when the lever 726 is in the upright second position, the front cover 101 interferes with the lever 726 as the front cover 101 is closed, and this is fixed to the fixing unit 73. Is configured to be displaced to the first position where the pressure contact state occurs.

  In the image forming apparatus, when the apparatus is not used for a long period of time, for example, after the product is shipped to the user's hand, the heating roller 71 and the pressure belt 72 are maintained with the lever 726 remaining in the first position. Are kept in pressure contact with each other, the heating roller 71 is plastically deformed by the pressure contact force, and a part thereof becomes flat. Then, as described above, so-called nip marks appearing in the formed image in the period of the rotating body, or so-called nip marks are generated, or abnormal noise is periodically generated during operation due to deformation of the heating roller 71, which may cause the failure of the apparatus. There is a risk.

  Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, when the product is shipped, a nip prevention member (holding member) that is detachable between the printer main body 100 (in this embodiment, the casing 100 a of the printer main body 100) and the lever 726. ) 800 is mounted, and the lever 726 is held at the third position where the fixing unit 73 is in the pressure release state to prevent the deformation. Note that the nip prevention member 800 is only required to be mounted between the printer main body 100 and the lever 726, and is not necessarily between the housing 100 a and the lever 726 of the printer main body 100.

  That is, the nip prevention member 800 is pressed against the lever 726 with the lever 726 tilted to the third position, and then the cover (not shown) of the printer main body 100 constituting the housing 100a is closed and fixed. In the third position, the lever 726 has a displacement force to the first position, so that the nip prevention member 800 holds the lever 726 in the third position against the displacement force, and the displacement The force nips the lever 726 and the housing 100a. If the user removes the nip prevention member 800 at the stage of use, the lever 726 is automatically displaced to the first position. Therefore, the fixing means 73 (the heating roller 71) is not required without requiring a special operation from the user. The pressure belt 72) is in a press-contact state in which printing is possible.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 12, the nip prevention member 800 includes a first contact surface 801 with which the lever 726 is pressed, and a second contact surface located on the opposite side of the first contact surface 801. 802, and the nip prevention member 800 is sandwiched between the lever 726 and the housing 100a by using the displacement force by which the lever 726 in the third position is displaced to the first position, thereby preventing the nip prevention member 800 is mounted in a state of being pressed against the casing 100 a of the printer main body 100.

  The nip prevention member 800 further includes a third contact surface 803 formed at a position protruding from both sides of the first contact surface 801 in the direction opposite to the second contact surface 802. The third contact surface 803 comes into contact with the surface 100a-2 facing the surface 100a-1 with which the second contact surface 802 of the housing 100a comes into contact. Therefore, the third contact surface 803 restricts the rotational movement of the nip prevention member 800 around the lever 726 so that the nip prevention member 800 is less likely to drop off.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the casing 100 a of the printer main body 100 is regulated to sandwich the nip prevention member 800 mounted between the casing 100 a and the lever 726 from the direction intersecting the rotation direction of the lever 726. Part 100a-3 is formed. As a result, the nip prevention member 800 is mounted so as to be fitted into the housing 100a, and the movement of the lever 726 in the direction intersecting the rotation direction is restricted, and the nip prevention member 800 is difficult to drop off. . However, the restricting portion 100a-3 does not sandwich the nip preventing member 800, but restricts the movement of the nip preventing member 800 in the direction intersecting with the rotation direction of the lever 726 by approaching or contacting the nip preventing member 800. It only has to come to do.

  Such a nip prevention member 800 is preferably formed of a material having an elastic modulus lower than that of the casing 100 a of the printer main body 100 (that is, the mounting portion of the nip prevention member 800) and the lever 726. In this way, for example, wear of the apparatus due to the nip prevention member 800 during transportation or damage to the device, especially damage to the lever 726 in pressure contact with the nip prevention member 800 is prevented.

Specifically, the nip prevention member 800 can be made of foamed polyethylene. In the case of the foamed polyethylene, in addition to the above-described damage prevention, wear pieces and dust are not generated from the nip prevention member 800 or the lever 726 in contact with the nip prevention member 800 or the printer main body 100. This prevents the malfunction of the device due to the dust and the image quality deterioration associated therewith. Incidentally, the bulk density [rho during molding of expanded polyethylene, 0.034g / cm ³ <ρ <When 0.20 g / cm ^3, long gone sag of the nip preventing member 800 against the pressing force from the lever 726 Thus, the lever 726 can be maintained at the third position, and a stable nip release state can be maintained.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the nip preventing member 800 can be provided with a mounting hole 804, and for example, a pulling member 900 that can be pulled by an external force such as a string or a tape can be attached. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, two nip prevention members 800 are attached to levers 726 provided at two positions on both sides of the fixing device 70, so that these two nip prevention members 800 are traction members. Attached to both sides of 900.

  If the traction member 900 is attached, the user who opens the package and sets the apparatus in a usable state can be notified that the nip prevention member 800 is still attached due to the presence of the traction member 900, thereby preventing the nip. Forgetting to remove the member 800 is prevented. In addition, the nip preventing member 800 can be easily removed simply by opening the cover of the printer main body 100 and pulling the pulling member 900.

  As shown in the figure, the attachment hole 804 that is the attachment position of the traction member 900 in the nip prevention member 800 is formed between the first contact surface 801 and the second contact surface 802 to pull the traction member 900. It is preferable that the nip prevention member 800 can be removed smoothly without interfering with the lever 726, the housing 100a, and the like.

  Note that it is desirable to attach a notification sheet 910 stating that the nip prevention member 800 is to be removed to the pulling member 900 when the use of the image forming apparatus is started. Although it is conceivable that the message for removing the nip prevention member 800 is not transmitted to the user only with the pulling member 900, such a concern disappears if the notice 910 is attached. At this time, if the notice 910 is placed in a conspicuous place at the time of unpacking, such as the upper surface of the apparatus (for example, an access cover for mounting an image forming process cartridge not mounted on the apparatus immediately after unpacking), The message as described above can be transmitted to the user more reliably, and forgetting to remove the nip prevention member 800 can be reduced.

  In the image forming apparatus 1 having the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 1, the full color or black and white toner image formed by the process cartridge 92 is fed by the transfer roller 60 from the paper feed tray 5. Transferred onto the paper P. Thereafter, the sheet P is subjected to a fixing process by the fixing device 70, and is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 64 as it is by the sheet discharge roll 730 in the case of single-sided image formation. Further, in the case of double-sided image formation, the paper P on which an image is formed on one side is not discharged as it is by the paper discharge roll 730, but the paper discharge roll 730 nips the rear end of the paper P. The paper discharge roll 730 is reversed, and is conveyed again to the transfer portion of the process cartridge 92 via the double-sided paper conveyance path 7.

  At that time, in the image forming apparatus 1, as shown in FIG. 2, when the paper P is fed from the paper feed tray 5, or the transfer nip portion between the process cartridge 92 and the transfer roll 60, and further the fixing device 70. There is a case where a paper jam called a jam occurs in the inside, the front and back positions thereof, the paper transport path 7 for both sides, and the like.

  Therefore, when the paper P is jammed, as shown in FIG. 2, the front cover 101 of the printer main body 100 is opened to expose the double-sided paper transport path 7, and the jam occurs in the double-sided paper transport path 7. The generated paper P can be removed, or the paper P having a jam at the exit portion of the fixing device 70 can be removed.

  At this time, in order to release the nip of the fixing device 70, in FIG. 6, the lever 726 at the first position, which is the printable position until then, is manually rotated upward to the second position. As a result, the nip of the fixing device 70 is released.

  In addition, after removing the jammed paper P, the lever 726 is returned from the second position to the first position, but if the user forgets to return the lever 726 to the first position. However, when the front cover 101 is closed as described above, the front cover 101 interferes with the lever 726, whereby the lever 726 is pushed and returned to the first position.

  As described above, according to the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the nip preventing member 800 is detachably mounted between the housing 100a of the printer main body 100 and the lever 726, so that, for example, a product is shipped. Deformation of the fixing means 73 (the heating roller 71 and the pressure belt 72) when the apparatus is not used for a long period of time, such as until it reaches the user's hand, is prevented. Further, when the device is used, even if the user forgets to return the lever 726 to the first position after clearing the jam, the lever 726 is pushed by the front cover 101 interfering with the lever 726, and the second position ( Since the fixing unit 73 returns to the first position (position where the fixing unit 73 is in the pressure contact state) from the pressure release state), the fixing unit 73 may be in the pressure release state due to carelessness of the user during printing. Is prevented.

  (Embodiment 2)

  14 is a conceptual diagram showing the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention with the front cover opened, and FIG. 15 is a fourth diagram provided in the image forming apparatus and the fixing device with the front cover opened. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a functional position of a lever provided in the fixing device.

  In the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, even when a jam occurs on the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction with respect to the fixing device 70, the sheet P that causes the jam can be easily removed. 1, the front cover 101 can be opened / closed together with the fixing device 70 in addition to being able to be opened / closed independently.

  That is, in the image forming apparatus 1 of the second embodiment, the fixing device 70 is mounted on the printer main body 100 so as to be rotatable on the same axis as the front cover 101, and by operating a latch lever (not shown). It is fixed with respect to the printer main body 100, and the fixing is released and the front cover 101 is rotated. Accordingly, the front cover 101 has an opening / closing mode (first opening / closing mode) in which the fixing device 70 is left on the printer main body 100 side by an operation of a latch lever, and an opening / closing mode with the fixing device 70 (second opening / closing mode). The two open / close modes can be selected. In the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment, the front cover 101 can only be opened and closed in the first opening / closing mode, whereas in the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment, the opening / closing in the second opening / closing mode is further performed. The difference is that it is also possible.

  Then, when the second release surface 726e formed on the lever 726 presses the arm portion 725 of the arm member 717 (see FIGS. 9 and 10), the lever 726 is moved to the first position (the fixing means 73 is fixed). A self-holding fourth position (position where the fixing means 73 is in the pressure release state) rotated in the opposite direction from the second position (position where the fixing means 73 is in the pressure release state) from the pressure contact position). ) Can be displaced (FIG. 16).

  As described in the first embodiment, the front cover 101 interferes with the lever 726 in the second position when the front cover 101 is closed in the first opening / closing mode, and displaces the lever 726 to the first position. When the second opening / closing mode is closed, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the lever 726 in the fourth position is interfered with the printer main body 100 in accordance with the operation of closing the front cover 101, and the lever 726 is moved to the first position. The position is displaced.

  In the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, when a jam occurs in the lower part of the fixing device 70 or in the transfer nip portion of the process cartridge 92 and the transfer roll 60, the front cover 101 is moved as shown in FIGS. After the opening, the latch lever is further operated to release the fixing of the fixing device 70 to the printer main body 100, and the fixing device 70 is moved together with the transfer roll 60 to the front cover 101 side (second opening / closing mode). Then, the transfer nip portion of the transfer roll 60 is exposed, and the paper P in which a jam has occurred in the transfer nip portion or the like is removed.

  At this time, when the fixing device 70 is moved together with the transfer roll 60 to the front cover 101 side, as shown in the drawing, a part of the upper portion of the fixing device 70 is covered by the front cover 101 and the lever 726 is rotated upward. May be difficult.

  Therefore, when releasing the nip of the fixing device 70 in this state, as shown in FIG. 16, the lever 726 is manually rotated from the first position to the fourth position opposite to the second position. By operating, the heating roller 71 as the fixing unit 73 and the pressure belt 72 are released from the pressure contact state.

  Further, after the jammed paper P is removed, the lever 726 is returned to the original position. However, even if the user forgets to return the lever 726 to the original position, the front cover 101 is returned. When the fixing device 70 is returned to the original operating position by closing the, the lever 726 is pushed up by interference with the printer main body 100 and is automatically returned to the first position which is the printable position.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, the lever 726 is configured to be in the press-contact released state at the second position and the fourth position opposite to the first position. At each position, it automatically returns to the first position with the operation of closing the front cover 101. Therefore, even when the user forgets to return the lever 726 to the first position after clearing the jam when the apparatus is used, the lever 726 is automatically pushed to the second position or Since the fourth position (both positions where the fixing means 73 is in the pressure contact release state) returns to the first position (positions where the fixing means 73 is in the pressure contact state), the fixing means 73 is careless by the user during printing. This prevents the pressure contact release state. Also in this embodiment, the nip prevention member 800 is detachably mounted between the casing 100a of the printer main body 100 and the lever 726, so that, for example, from the shipment of the product to the user's hand. Needless to say, the deformation of the fixing means 73 (the heating roller 71 and the pressure belt 72) due to mutual pressure contact when the apparatus is not used for a long period of time is prevented.

  In the present embodiment, the nip prevention member 800 is preferably attached so as to be fitted into the housing 100a by the restricting portion 100a-3 (FIG. 13). This is because even when the front cover 101 is opened in the second opening / closing mode, the nip prevention member 800 is held by the restricting portion 100a-3 and does not fall into the apparatus, so that damage to the apparatus can be prevented. Because.

  The nip prevention member 800 has the lever 726 at the first position when the front cover 101 moves in the closing direction in the second opening / closing state with the nip prevention member 800 attached to the image forming apparatus 1. In this case, an interference portion 805 that interferes with the nip prevention member 800 and cannot close the front cover 101 is formed (see FIG. 12). Thereby, it is possible to reliably prevent forgetting to remove the nip prevention member 800 at the start of use of the apparatus, and it is possible to prevent a printing failure due to a user malfunction.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the third position of the lever 726 is a position rotated in the direction opposite to the second position from the first position, but is displaced to the first position. As long as it has force, it may be a position rotated in the direction of the second position.

  The lever 726 rotates (that is, reciprocates around an arcuate locus about a predetermined fulcrum) as long as the lever 726 can move. Good.

  Furthermore, although the elements constituting the fixing unit 73 are the heating roller 71 and the pressure belt 72, various heating rotating bodies such as a heating belt may be used instead of the heating roller 71. Various pressure rotating bodies such as a pressure roller may be used.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the fixing unit 73 is constituted by a pair of members, that is, the heating roller 71 and the pressure belt 72. However, in the present invention, the fixing unit is not necessarily a pair. That is, for example, there is one heating rotator such as the heating roller 71 and a plurality of (two) pressure rotators such as the pressure belt 72, and conversely, there are a plurality of heating rotators and one pressure rotator. It is possible to adopt a configuration of two, or a configuration of a plurality of them.

  In the above description, the case where the present invention is applied to a tandem type full color printer has been described. However, the present invention is widely applied to an image forming apparatus using a fixing unit regardless of a color printer or a monochrome printer. It is possible.

  In addition, as the sheet to be conveyed, various sheets such as paper, film, postcard, and cash can be applied.

1 is a conceptual diagram showing an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a state in which a front cover is opened in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a process cartridge of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a fixing device mounted on the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1 together with a housing of a printer main body. FIG. 5 is a front view of FIG. 4. It is sectional drawing along the AB line of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the surrounding structure of a pressure belt in detail. It is explanatory drawing which shows the press-contact structure of a heating roller and a pressure belt. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an arm member provided in the fixing device. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a lever as an operation means provided in the fixing device. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus with a front cover opened and a lever at a second position provided in the fixing device. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a nip prevention member attached to the image forming apparatus. FIG. 4 is a front view showing a nip prevention member mounted between a printer body casing and a lever. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing a state in which a front cover is opened in an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus with a front cover opened and a lever at a fourth position provided in the fixing device. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a functional position of a lever provided in the fixing device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 70 Fixing device 71 Heating roller 72 Pressure belt 73 Fixing means 100 Printer main body (apparatus main body)
100a-3 Restricting part 101 Front cover (lid member)
726 Lever (operating means)
800 Nip prevention member (holding member)
801 1st contact surface 802 2nd contact surface 803 3rd contact surface 804 Mounting hole 805 Interference part 900 Pulling member 910 Notification form P Paper (sheet)

Claims (10)

A fixing means provided so as to be displaceable between a pressure contact state and a pressure contact release state in which the pressure contact state is released, and allowing the sheet to pass through the pressure contact portion and fixing the visible agent to the sheet;
The fixing unit is in a pressure contact state at a self-holdable first position so that printing is possible, and the fixing unit is in a pressure release state at a self-holdable second position moved from the first position in a predetermined direction. Moving the fixing means from the first position in the direction of the second position or a direction different from the second position to bring the fixing means into a pressure-release state at a third position having a displacement force to the first position; An operating means for bringing the fixing means into a pressure-released state at a self-holding fourth position moved in a direction different from the second position from the first position;
Two opening / closing modes, a first opening / closing mode in which the fixing unit and the operating unit are left on the apparatus body side, and a second opening / closing mode with the fixing unit and the operating unit are selectable in the apparatus body. At the time of closing in the first opening and closing mode, the operating unit is displaced to the first position by interfering with the operating unit in the second position, and at the time of closing in the second opening and closing mode, A lid member for causing the operating means in a fourth position to interfere with the apparatus main body and displacing the operating means to the first position;
A holding member that is detachably mounted between the apparatus main body and the operation means, and holds the operation means in the third position against the displacement force;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The device main body is formed with a restricting portion that restricts movement of the holding member mounted between the device main body and the operation means in a direction crossing the moving direction of the operation means.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 . The holding member is
A first contact surface with which the operating means is in pressure contact;
A second contact surface located on the opposite side of the first contact surface and press-contacting the apparatus main body by the displacement force of the operating means;
The third contact surface is formed at a position protruding from both sides of the first contact surface in a direction opposite to the second contact surface, and contacts the surface of the device main body facing the surface that the second contact surface contacts. A contact surface of
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the having. The holding member is formed of a material having a lower elastic modulus than the holding member mounting portion of the apparatus main body and the operation means.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. The holding member is made of polyethylene foam,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. A pulling member that can be pulled by an external force is attached to the holding member.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. A pulling member that can be pulled by an external force is attached to the holding member,
The attachment position of the traction member in the holding member is between the first contact surface and the second contact surface.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 . The pulling member is attached with a notice stating that the holding member is to be removed at the start of use of the image forming apparatus.
8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. The holding member is fitted into the apparatus main body,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. The holding member is formed with an interference portion that interferes with the operation means at the first position and prevents the lid member from being closed when the lid member moves in the closing direction in the second opening / closing mode. ing,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 .

Images