JP5253253B2 - Color electrophotographic image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a color electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which a plurality of cartridges are detachably attached to an apparatus body to form an image on a recording medium.

  Here, the color electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms a color image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic image forming process. Examples of the color electrophotographic image forming apparatus include a color electrophotographic copying machine, a color electrophotographic printer (for example, a color laser beam printer, a color LED printer, etc.), a color facsimile apparatus, a color word processor, and the like.

  The recording medium is an image on which an image is formed by an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and includes, for example, paper, an OHP sheet, and the like.

  The cartridge is, for example, a process cartridge or a developing cartridge, which is detachably attached to the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and contributes to an image forming process for forming an image on a recording medium. Here, the process cartridge is a cartridge in which the developing means as the process means and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum are integrally formed and detachably attached to the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. In addition to the developing means as the process means and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the process cartridge is integrated with the charging means or the cleaning means as the process means, and is detachably mounted on the main body. To do. A process cartridge integrally including an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and developing means is referred to as a so-called integrated type. A process cartridge that integrally includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and process means other than the developing means is referred to as a so-called separation type.

  Here, the process cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus by the user himself. Therefore, maintenance of the apparatus main body can be easily performed. The process means acts on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum.

  The developing cartridge has a developing roller, and contains a developer (toner) used to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum by the developing roller. It is detachably attached to the main body. In the case of the developing cartridge, the electrophotographic photosensitive drum is attached to the apparatus main body or a cartridge support member described later. Alternatively, the electrophotographic photosensitive drum is provided in the so-called separation type process cartridge (in this case, the process cartridge does not have developing means). The developing cartridge can also be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body by the user himself / herself. Therefore, maintenance of the apparatus main body can be easily performed.

  Therefore, the cartridge includes the so-called integral type or the so-called separation type process cartridge. The cartridge includes a case where a so-called separation type process cartridge and the developing cartridge are used as a pair. Further, as the cartridge, the electrophotographic photosensitive drum is fixedly attached to the apparatus main body or a cartridge support member described later, and the developing cartridge is detachably used so as to be able to act on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. Includes cases.

  For example, a configuration shown in Patent Document 1 is known as a configuration for attaching and detaching a plurality of cartridges to and from the image forming apparatus main body. This supports a plurality of cartridges on the cartridge support member. The cartridge support member is slid and moved between an inner position located inside the apparatus main body and an outer position located outside the apparatus main body. The user attaches / detaches the cartridge to / from the cartridge support member with the cartridge support member pulled out from the inner position to the outer position. Then, when the user pushes the cartridge support member into the inner position, the cartridge is mounted at the image forming position.

JP2007-121983

  In such an image forming apparatus, the user is informed of which cartridge has an insufficient amount of developer by using a display unit provided in the apparatus body or an external host device such as a personal computer. . By checking the information, the user confirms the cartridge to be replaced, and replaces the cartridge.

  At this time, when a user unfamiliar with cartridge replacement works or when the image forming apparatus is located away from the external host device, the user may be confused as to which cartridge to replace.

  In such a case, when the user replaces the cartridge, a lot of time is consumed, or a cartridge that does not need to be replaced is detached and the usability is lowered.

  An object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily determine a cartridge to be replaced only by looking at a cartridge moved to an outer position by a cartridge support member, and to improve usability.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a color electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium by detachably mounting a plurality of cartridges containing a developer on the apparatus main body. A cartridge supporting member that supports the cartridge and moves between an inner position located inside the apparatus main body and an outer position located outside the apparatus main body, and detects the remaining amount of developer in the cartridge Each cartridge has a light emitter at a position that can be confirmed when the cartridge support member is moved to the outer position, and each cartridge has a developer remaining amount. When the amount is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, the light emitter emits light when current is applied from the power source through a contact portion for connecting the light emitter and the power source at the outer position. To.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily determine the cartridge to be replaced simply by moving the cartridge support member to the outer position and checking the light emitter of the cartridge. As a result, it is possible to shorten the time when the user replaces the cartridge, or to prevent the cartridge that does not need to be replaced from being attached or detached, and to improve the usability.

1 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. Partial sectional view of the image forming apparatus with the tray pulled out Partial perspective sectional view of the image forming apparatus with the tray pulled out 4A is a perspective view of the cartridge according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 4B is a schematic sectional view of the cartridge. The perspective view of the cartridge tray which concerns on 1st Embodiment FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a contact portion of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. Cross-sectional perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment The perspective view of the cartridge which concerns on 2nd Embodiment The principal part expansion perspective view of the cartridge which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. A perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment.

  Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of the components described in the following embodiments should be appropriately changed according to the configuration of the apparatus to which the present invention is applied and various conditions. Therefore, unless specifically stated otherwise, the scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited thereto.

[First Embodiment]
<Overall configuration of color electrophotographic image forming apparatus>
First, an overall configuration of a color electrophotographic image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as an image forming apparatus) according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional explanatory view showing replacement of a process cartridge (hereinafter referred to as a cartridge). FIG. 3 is a partial perspective sectional view showing replacement of the cartridge.

  The image forming apparatus of this embodiment is a four-color full-color laser printer using an electrophotographic process. The image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium (sheet) based on an image signal input from an external host device (not shown) such as a personal computer, an image reader, or a counterpart facsimile machine.

  In the following description, regarding the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus main body 100 is obtained by excluding the configuration of each cartridge described later from the image forming apparatus. The front side (front side) of the image forming apparatus main body 100 is the side on which the apparatus opening / closing door (opening / closing member) 31 is disposed. The rear side (back side) is the opposite side. The left and right are left or right when the image forming apparatus main body 100 is viewed from the front side.

  As shown in FIG. 1, first to fourth cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, PK) are horizontally arranged from the rear side to the front side in the image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter referred to as the apparatus main body) 100. It is arranged side by side in the direction. Each cartridge P has the same configuration except that the color of the stored developer is different. The cartridge PY contains a yellow developer. Further, the cartridge PM contains a magenta developer. Further, the cartridge PC stores a cyan developer. The PK contains a black developer.

  In this embodiment, an example in which a so-called integrated process cartridge is used as the cartridge P will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to the case where a process cartridge is used. The cartridge P having the above-described configuration can be applied.

  A laser scanner unit 11 is disposed above the cartridge P attached to the apparatus main body 100. The scanner unit 11 scans and exposes the drum surface of each cartridge through an exposure window 6 provided on the upper surface of the cartridge frame 5 by laser light. As a result, electrostatic latent images are sequentially formed on the photosensitive drum 1 whose surface is charged by the charging roller 2. Subsequently, the electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing device (developing unit) 3 to form a developer image on the photosensitive drum 1.

  An intermediate transfer belt 13 is disposed below the cartridge P attached to the apparatus main body 100. The transfer belt 13 is stretched by a driving roller 14, a driven roller 15, and a tension roller 16, and rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. The lower surface of the photosensitive drum 1 of each cartridge P is in contact with the upper surface of the transfer belt 13 (the position of each cartridge P shown in FIG. 1 is the image forming position). Four primary transfer rollers 17 are disposed inside the transfer belt 13 so as to face the photosensitive drum 1 of each cartridge P.

  A secondary transfer roller 22 is in contact with the drive roller 14 via the transfer belt 13. A fixing device 23 and a discharge roller pair 24 are disposed on the upper rear side in the apparatus main body 100. A discharge tray 25 is disposed on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 100. The fixing device 23 has a fixing film 23a and a pressure roller 23b.

  At the time of image formation, the developer images formed on the respective photosensitive drums 1 are sequentially transferred onto the transfer belt 13, and a color image is formed on the transfer belt 13. In synchronization with this image forming operation, the recording medium S stacked and stored in a feeding tray 19 disposed at the lower part of the apparatus main body 100 is fed by a feeding roller 20 that rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. . The fed recording medium S is sent to the nip portion between the drive roller 14 and the secondary transfer roller 22.

  Next, the developer image formed on the transfer belt 13 is transferred to the recording medium S sent to the nip portion between the drive roller 14 and the secondary transfer roller 22. Further, the recording medium S on which the developer image has been transferred is sent to the nip portion between the fixing film 23a and the pressure roller 23b, where it is heated and pressed. As a result, the developer image is fixed on the recording medium S. The recording medium S on which the developer image is fixed is discharged to the discharge tray 25 by the discharge roller pair 24.

  In the present embodiment, in order to improve usability, the tray 35 is pulled out to the front side of the apparatus main body 100 while the cartridge P is supported (accommodated) on the cartridge tray (cartridge support member) 35. Thus, the user can exchange the cartridge P from the front side (the side where the door 31 is provided) of the apparatus main body 100 (so-called front access). The tray 35 is supported by the rail member 34 with respect to the apparatus main body 100. The tray 35 is provided so that the user can slide in the front-rear direction (the directions of arrows A and B in FIG. 1) with the handle portion 35a. The door 31 is provided so as to be rotatable about a shaft (hinge portion) 32 with respect to the apparatus main body 100. 2 and 3 show a state in which the door 31 is opened and the tray 35 is pulled out of the apparatus main body 100.

  The tray (cartridge support member) 35 supports the cartridge P, and an inner position I (the position in FIG. 1) located inside the apparatus main body 100 and an outer position O (the position shown in FIG. 2) located outside the apparatus main body 100. Position).

  The outer position O is a position where the user attaches / detaches the cartridge P to / from the tray 35 (removable position).

  Note that the cartridge P supported (mounted) on the tray 35 at the outer position O moves to the inner position I when the user pushes the tray 35 into the apparatus main body 100. The cartridge P is located at an image forming position that contributes to image formation (FIG. 1). Here, the image forming position is a state in which a part of the photosensitive drum 1 is in contact with the transfer belt 13. When the door 31 is closed with the tray 35 positioned at the inner position I, the tray 35 is lowered and the cartridge P is positioned at the image forming position. When the door 31 is opened, the cartridge P rises as the tray 35 rises. As a result, the photosensitive drum 1 is separated from the transfer belt 13. In this state, the user pulls out the tray 35 toward the outer position O of the apparatus main body 100 (in the direction of arrow B).

  2 and 3, when the tray 35 is sufficiently pulled out to a predetermined position outside the apparatus main body 100, all the cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK supported by the tray 35 are removed from the apparatus main body 100. Exposed to the outside, the upper surface of all cartridges is opened. The tray 35 is provided with a protrusion 35h that restricts the movement of the tray 35 in the pulling direction. The protrusion 35h is biased in the direction of arrow C in FIG. The tray 35 is pulled out by a predetermined sufficient amount, and the protrusion 35h is engaged with the groove 34b provided in the rail member 34, thereby preventing further movement of the tray 35. Further, the state in which the tray 35 is pulled out horizontally to a predetermined pulling position is stably maintained by the rail member 34. Therefore, the used cartridge to be replaced is lifted upward from the tray 35 and removed. Then, a new cartridge is inserted into the tray 35 from above.

<Distinction configuration of cartridge to be replaced>
In this embodiment, in order to improve usability, it is possible to easily determine the cartridge to be replaced by simply looking at the cartridge moved to the outer position by the tray when replacing the cartridge. The configuration is as follows.

  First, the configuration of the cartridge and the configuration of the contact portion for connecting the cartridge and the apparatus main body will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4A is an external perspective view of the cartridge. FIG. 4B is a schematic sectional view of the cartridge. 5A and 5B are perspective views of the cartridge tray. 6A and 6B are enlarged perspective views of a contact portion in the image forming apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, each cartridge P has an electrophotographic photosensitive drum 1 and process means acting on the photosensitive drum 1 disposed inside the cartridge frame 5. Here, a charging roller (charging means) 2, a developing device (developing means) 3, and a cleaning device (cleaning means) 4 are provided as process means. The charging roller 2 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 1. The cleaning device 4 removes the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 after the transfer. The developing unit 3 includes a developing roller 3a that sends the developer to the photosensitive drum 1 and a developer container 3b that stores the developer. The developing unit 3 uses the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 as a developer. Use to develop.

  Each cartridge P is provided with a light emitting diode 49 as a light emitter on the outside of the cartridge frame 5. The light emitting diode 49 is provided at a position (here, the upper surface of the cartridge) that can be confirmed when the cartridge tray 35 is moved to the outer position.

  The light emitting diode 49 of each cartridge emits light when a current is applied from a power source provided in the apparatus main body 100. Here, a contact portion for connecting the light emitting diode of the cartridge and a power source (not shown) will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, each cartridge is provided with a conducting portion 50 that is electrically connected to the light emitting diode 49 on the outside of the cartridge frame 5. Further, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the cartridge tray 35 is provided with a conducting spring 52 that can be connected to the conducting portion 50 of each cartridge on the inner side. The conducting portion 50 and the conducting spring 52 constitute a first contact portion that connects the cartridge P and the tray 35 by supporting the cartridge P with the tray 35.

  Further, the cartridge tray 35 is provided with a contact leaf spring 60 connected to the inner conduction spring 52 on the outer side. Further, the apparatus main body 100 is provided with a contact coil spring 53 that can be connected to the contact leaf spring 60 of the tray 35. The contact leaf spring 60 and the contact coil spring 53 constitute a second contact portion that connects the tray 35 and the power source (not shown) by moving the tray 35 to the outside position (detachable position).

  FIG. 6A shows a state where the light emitting diode 49 and the power source of the apparatus main body are connected. FIG. 6B shows the conductive state in a state where the tray 35 is removed from FIG.

  As can be seen from FIGS. 6A and 6B, in the state where the first contact portion and the second contact portion are in contact with each other, the power source of the apparatus main body and the light-emitting diode 49 of each cartridge P are connected to each other. It becomes a conductive state. Here, since the second contact portion is not in contact when the tray 35 is in the inner position, the light emitting diode 49 and the power source of the apparatus main body are not in conduction.

  Next, a procedure until the user replaces the cartridge when the remaining amount of the developer in each cartridge becomes a predetermined amount or less will be described.

  Although not shown, the image forming apparatus includes a developer remaining amount detecting unit that detects the remaining amount of developer in each cartridge, and a control unit that performs control based on the detection information. The image forming apparatus detects that the remaining amount of developer in each cartridge has become a predetermined amount or less by a developer remaining amount detection unit and a control unit (not shown). At this time, the tray supporting the cartridge is at the inner position (image forming position). Here, the developer remaining amount detecting means includes, for example, light transmission type developer remaining amount detection disclosed in JP-A-2003-21955.

  When there is a cartridge in which the remaining amount of the developer is equal to or less than a predetermined amount among the plurality of cartridges, the image forming apparatus applies the contact coil spring 53 of the cartridge that is determined that the remaining amount of the developer is equal to or less than the predetermined amount. Start applying current.

  At the same time as or immediately after the application of current to the contact coil spring 53, the image forming apparatus has a predetermined amount of developer remaining on a display unit (not shown) or an external host device (not shown) provided in the apparatus body. A warning is displayed that there is a cartridge that is less than the amount. In this state, since the tray 35 is still in the image forming position, the second contact portion is in a non-contact state. Therefore, the light emitting diode 49 does not emit light.

  A user who sees a warning indicating that there is a cartridge whose developer remaining amount is equal to or less than a predetermined amount opens the door 31 and pulls out the cartridge tray 35 in the direction of arrow B in FIG. To a predetermined position (removable position) shown in FIG. As a result, all the cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK supported by the tray 35 are exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body 100, and the upper surfaces of all the cartridges are opened.

  When the cartridge tray 35 is pulled out to the detachable position, the protrusion 35 h provided on the tray 35 engages with the groove 34 b provided on the rail member 34. This prevents further withdrawal movement. The impact at that time is transmitted to the user as a click feeling, and the user is informed that the position is a detachable position.

  By pulling out the cartridge tray to the detachable position, both the first contact portion and the second contact portion are brought into contact with each other. Through this contact portion, a current is applied from the power source of the apparatus main body to the light emitting diode 49 of the cartridge in which the remaining amount of developer is determined to be equal to or less than a predetermined amount, and the light emitting diode 49 starts to emit light.

  The user who has confirmed that the light emitting diode 49 emits light takes out the cartridge from which the light emitting diode 49 emits light. At this time, it is set so that the application of current to the contact coil spring 53 is stopped when the first contact portion and the second contact portion are both in a conductive state and become non-conductive again.

  After removing the cartridge as described above, the user mounts a new cartridge on the cartridge tray 35. When a new cartridge is mounted on the tray, application of current from the power source of the apparatus main body to the contact coil spring 53 is stopped. Therefore, when a new cartridge is mounted on the tray 35, the first contact portion and the second contact portion are both in contact, but the light emitting diode 49 does not emit light.

  After replacing the cartridge as described above, the user pushes the cartridge tray 35 to the image forming position and closes the door 31.

  When the door 31 is closed, the developer remaining amount detecting means detects the remaining amount of developer in the cartridge supported by the tray moved to the image forming position. Based on this detection information, the control means detects the remaining amount of the cartridge. It is determined whether the remaining amount of the developer is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount. When it is determined that the remaining amount of developer in the cartridge is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount, a cartridge that is displayed on the display unit of the apparatus main body or the external host device and whose remaining amount of developer is equal to or smaller than the predetermined amount is displayed. Turn off the warning that there is. After confirming that this warning has disappeared, the cartridge replacement operation by the user is completed.

  Even when the door 31 is opened and the tray is pulled out to the attachable / detachable position with the control means determining that the remaining amount of developer in the cartridge is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, no current is applied to the light emitting diode 49. The light emitting diode 49 does not emit light.

  As described above, it is possible to easily determine the cartridge to be replaced simply by moving the tray 35 to the outer position and confirming that the light emitting diode 49 of each cartridge emits light. As a result, it is possible to shorten the time when the user replaces the cartridge, or to prevent the cartridge that does not need to be replaced from being attached or detached, and to improve the usability.

[Second Embodiment]
The image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, only a configuration different from the above-described embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cartridge. FIG. 9 shows an enlarged perspective view of the main part of the cartridge. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus with the tray pulled out.

  In the first embodiment described above, the power source of the image forming apparatus main body is used as the power source for causing the light emitting diode 49 to emit light. However, in this embodiment, the power source for causing the light emitting diode 49 to emit light is provided in each cartridge. It is said. Further, as a power source provided in each cartridge, a power source that generates power at an outer position is used. Here, a solar cell 61 is used as a power source.

  Further, each cartridge has a power fuse 63 as a switching member for connecting or blocking the light emitting diode 49 and the solar cell 61. The power fuse 63 is attached to each cartridge and is electrically connected to the power fuse contact portion 64. When the power fuse 63 is short-circuited in terms of electrical circuit, no current can be applied from the solar cell 61 to the light-emitting diode 62.

  A contact spring 65 is attached to the apparatus main body 100 side. The contact spring 65 is provided so as to come into contact with the power fuse contact portion 64 of each cartridge supported by the tray 35 at the inner position (image forming position). The power fuse 63 is blown by applying a current equal to or higher than a set value from the apparatus main body to the power fuse 63 through the contact portion. When the power fuse 63 is blown, an electric circuit can be applied to the light emitting diode 62 from the solar cell 61 (connected state).

  After the power fuse 63 is blown and a current can be applied from the solar cell 61 to the light emitting diode 49 in terms of an electric circuit, the solar cell 61 receives light by pulling the tray 35 to the outer position as shown in FIG. (Power generation) and the light emitting diode 49 emits light.

  Next, a procedure until the user replaces the cartridge when the remaining amount of the developer in each cartridge becomes a predetermined amount or less will be described.

  The image forming apparatus includes a display unit (not shown) or an external host device (not shown) provided in the apparatus main body when there is a cartridge in which the remaining amount of developer is a predetermined amount or less among a plurality of cartridges. Display the warning.

  At the same time or before the warning is displayed, the image forming apparatus applies a current equal to or greater than the set value to the contact spring 65 of the cartridge in which the remaining amount of the developer is equal to or less than a predetermined amount.

  When a current is applied to the contact spring 65, a current is applied to the power fuse 63 via the power fuse contact portion 64, and the power fuse 63 is blown. Note that, after the power fuse 63 is blown, the application of current from the apparatus main body is stopped.

  When the power fuse 63 is blown, a current can be applied from the solar cell 61 to the light emitting diode 62. At this time, since the tray 35 is also in the image forming position, the light emitting diode 62 does not emit light because the solar cell 61 does not receive light.

  A user who sees a warning indicating that there is a cartridge with the remaining amount of developer below a predetermined amount opens the door 31, pulls out the cartridge tray 35 in the direction of arrow B in FIG. To the position (removable position). As a result, all the cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK supported by the tray 35 are exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body 100, and the upper surfaces of all the cartridges are opened.

  When the cartridge tray 35 is pulled out to the attachable / detachable position, the projection 35h provided on the tray 35 engages with the groove 34b provided on the rail member 34 as in the first embodiment. This prevents further withdrawal movement. The impact at that time is transmitted to the user as a click feeling, and the user is informed that the position is a detachable position.

  As shown in FIG. 10, when the cartridge tray 35 is pulled out to the detachable position, the solar cells 61 of all the cartridges are in a light receiving state. As a result, the light emitting diode 49 of the cartridge in which the power fuse 63 is blown emits light to visually inform the user that the remaining amount of the developer is below a predetermined amount.

  The user who has confirmed that the light emitting diode 49 emits light pulls out the cartridge emitting light from the light emitting diode in the direction of arrow E in FIG. 10 and mounts a new cartridge on the cartridge tray 35.

  A new cartridge is mounted, the cartridge tray 35 is inserted to the image forming position, and the door 31 is closed. When the door 31 is closed, the developer remaining amount detecting means detects the remaining amount of developer in the cartridge supported by the tray moved to the image forming position. Based on this detection information, the control means detects the remaining amount of the cartridge. It is determined whether the remaining amount of the developer is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount. When it is determined that the remaining amount of developer in the cartridge is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, the warning displayed on the display unit of the apparatus main body or the external host device is turned off. After confirming that this warning has disappeared, the cartridge replacement operation by the user is completed.

  As described above, also in this embodiment, it is possible to easily determine the cartridge to be replaced simply by moving the tray 35 to the outer position and confirming that the light emitting diode 49 of each cartridge emits light. . As a result, it is possible to shorten the time when the user replaces the cartridge, or to prevent the cartridge that does not need to be replaced from being attached or detached, and to improve the usability.

[Other Embodiments]
In the above-described embodiment, the light emitting diode is exemplified as the light emitter, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other light emitters such as a light bulb may be used.

  In the second embodiment described above, the solar battery is used as a power source for causing the light emitting diode to emit light. However, a capacitor or the like may be used instead of another battery or a battery.

  In the above-described embodiment, the intermediate transfer member that carries and conveys the toner image is exemplified as the belt member with which the cartridge comes into contact with the separation. Specifically, an image forming apparatus that uses an intermediate transfer body, sequentially transfers toner images of respective colors on the intermediate transfer body, and collectively transfers the toner images carried on the intermediate transfer body onto a transfer material Has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The belt member with which the cartridge is detachably contactable may be a recording medium carrier that carries and conveys the recording medium. Specifically, the same effect can be obtained by applying the present invention to an image forming apparatus that uses a recording medium carrier and sequentially superimposes and transfers toner images of each color onto the recording medium carried on the recording medium carrier. Can be obtained.

  In each embodiment described above, the tray 35 moves in the horizontal direction with respect to the installation surface (not shown) of the apparatus main body 100. However, the present embodiment is not limited to this, and the tray 35 may move linearly, for example, obliquely upward or obliquely downward with respect to the installation surface (not shown) of the apparatus main body 100. The tray 35 linearly moves in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the cartridge to be supported (accommodated and mounted). The longitudinal direction of the cartridge is the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum 1 or the longitudinal direction of the developing roller.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the cartridge attachment / detachment position is a position where the cartridge is attached to or detached from the tray 35. The cartridge attaching / detaching position is located on the downstream side in the tray drawing direction as compared with the case where each cartridge is located at the image forming position. According to each embodiment, the cartridge attachment / detachment position is a position where the user can take out the cartridge supported by the tray 35 from the outside of the apparatus main body 100 from the tray 35. The cartridge attachment / detachment position is a position where the user can support the cartridge on the tray 35 from the outside of the apparatus main body 100. Therefore, the cartridge attaching / detaching position is not limited to the outside of the apparatus main body 100, and may be a position where the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the tray 35 even inside the apparatus main body 100.

  Further, according to each of the embodiments described above, the tray 35 is linearly movable in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cartridge with respect to the apparatus main body. However, the tray 35 may be linearly movable in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the cartridge with respect to the apparatus main body.

  Moreover, according to each embodiment mentioned above, you may enable it to remove the tray 35 from an apparatus main body by releasing a stopper (not shown).

  In the above-described embodiment, the printer is exemplified as the image forming apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the image forming apparatus may be another image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile machine, or another image forming apparatus such as a multi-function machine combining these functions. The same effect can be obtained by applying the present invention to these image forming apparatuses.

  In the above-described embodiment, four cartridges having different colors are illustrated as the plurality of cartridges. However, the number and colors of use are not limited to these, and may be set as needed.

P, PY, PM, PC, PK ... cartridge S ... recording medium 35 ... cartridge trays 49 and 62 ... light emitting diode 50 ... conduction portion 52 ... conduction spring 53 ... contact coil spring 60 ... contact leaf spring 61 ... solar cell 63 ... power fuse 64: Power fuse contact 65: Contact spring

Claims (3)

A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which a plurality of cartridges containing a developer are detachably attached to an apparatus main body to form an image on a recording medium,
A cartridge support member that supports the cartridge and moves between an inner position located inside the apparatus main body and an outer position located outside the apparatus main body;
A remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of developer in the cartridge;
Have
Each cartridge has a light emitter at a position that can be confirmed when the cartridge support member is moved to the outer position;
When the remaining amount of developer is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, each of the cartridges is applied with a current from the power source through a contact portion for connecting the light emitter and the power source at the outer position. A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus characterized in that a body emits light. The contact portion includes a first contact portion that connects the cartridge and the cartridge support member by supporting the cartridge by the cartridge support member, and the cartridge support member by moving the cartridge support member to the outer position. A second contact portion for connecting the member and the power source,
By moving the cartridge support member to the outer position, the power source and the cartridge are connected by the contact portion,
2. The color electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the cartridge in which the remaining amount of the developer is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, a current is applied from the power source through the contact portion, and the light emitter emits light. . The cartridge includes a power source that generates power at the outer position as the power source, and a switching member that connects or blocks the light emitter and the power source as the contact portion.
When the remaining amount of the developer is equal to or less than the predetermined amount, the cartridge switching member whose remaining amount of the developer is equal to or less than the predetermined amount is switched to the connected state, and the cartridge support member is moved to the outer position. The power source generates electricity,
2. The color electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the cartridge in which the remaining amount of the developer is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, a current is applied from the power source through the switching member and the light emitter emits light. .

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