JP5387954B2 - Image forming structure and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming structure and an image forming apparatus.

  In Patent Document 1, in a process cartridge that can be attached to and detached from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body, an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, at least one process unit that acts on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum are provided. A shutter member that can be opened and closed for protection, and a displacement member that is displaced by an operating member for opening and closing the shutter member provided in the apparatus main body, and a guide member provided in the apparatus main body. When the process cartridge is mounted while being guided, if the process cartridge is positioned on the mounting direction improving flow side from the position at the time of image formation, the displacement member is moved by the displacement for opening the shutter member. The process cartridge is moved in the direction of the image forming position in contact with a guide member. Process cartridge is disclosed.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a cartridge that is detachably provided in an image forming apparatus main body, which includes at least one image forming component that performs image formation, a gripping portion provided in the cartridge main body, The gripping part protrudes from the cartridge body when the opening / closing part for opening and closing the image forming apparatus main body is opened, and the gripping part is retracted to the cartridge body side when the opening / closing part is closed. There is disclosed a cartridge having supporting means for movably supporting the portion.

JP 2006-293048 A

JP 2008-90121 A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming structure and an image forming apparatus that can be reduced in size and can favorably protect the image carrier as compared with the case where a grip portion is provided on the image forming structure body. It is to provide.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming structure main body, an image holding member mounted in the image forming structure such that at least a part of the image forming structure is exposed, and the image holding member. An image carrier covering member movable between a first position covering a portion exposed from the image forming structure main body and a second position spaced apart from the portion exposed from the image forming structure of the image carrier. An image carrier auxiliary covering member that is movable to a position that covers the image carrier, and that moves in a direction opposite to the direction in which the image covering member moves when the image carrier covering member moves; And the image carrier covering member is provided with at least a gripping part that is gripped during transportation.

  The present invention according to claim 2 is the image forming structure according to claim 1, wherein the grip portion is used to move the image carrier covering member.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming structure according to the first or second aspect, wherein the grip portion is used for attaching to and detaching from the image forming apparatus main body.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a concave portion is formed at a position of the image forming structure facing a grip portion of another adjacent image forming structure in a state where the image forming structure is mounted in the image forming apparatus main body. claims 1 to 3 have a image forming structure according to any one.

The present invention according to claim 5 is the image forming structure according to claim 4 , wherein the concave portion is disposed at a substantially central portion in a longitudinal direction of the image forming structure main body.

The present invention according to claim 6 is the image forming structure according to claim 4 , wherein two of the concave portions are formed so as to be positioned at both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the image forming structure main body.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus main body and an image forming structure that is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body, and the image forming structure includes the image forming structure main body and the image forming structure main body. An image holding body mounted in the image forming structure so that at least a portion is exposed from the image forming structure, and a first position covering a portion of the image holding body exposed from the image forming structure body; An image carrier covering member movable between a second position separated from a portion exposed from the image forming structure of the image carrier, and movable to a position covering the image carrier, An image carrier auxiliary covering member that moves in a direction opposite to the direction in which the image covering member moves when the image carrier covering member moves, and the image carrier covering member is gripped at least during transportation The image forming apparatus is provided with a grip portion to be provided

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a coupling mechanism that couples the image carrier covering members that the plurality of image forming structures are attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body and each of the plurality of image forming structures has. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

According to the present invention, an image forming structure and an image forming apparatus that can be downsized and can favorably protect the image holding member as compared with the case where a grip portion is provided in the image forming structure main body. Can be provided.

1 is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where an image forming structure is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an image forming structure used in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the image forming structure shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 6A shows the image forming structure shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6A is a left side view showing a state where the image carrier covering member is disposed at a position separated from the portion exposed from the image forming structure of the photosensitive drum. FIG. 6B is a right side view showing a state in which the image carrier covering member is disposed at a position covering the exposed portion. It is a schematic diagram which shows the connection mechanism which the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 has. FIG. 5 is a plan view schematically showing an arrangement when the image forming structure shown in FIG. 4 is mounted in the main body of the image forming apparatus. It is a top view which shows typically arrangement | positioning when the image-form formation structure which concerns on a modification is mounted | worn in the image forming apparatus main body. FIG. 10A shows an image forming structure used in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10A shows the image carrier covering member exposed from the image forming structure of the photosensitive drum. FIG. 10B is a right side view illustrating a state in which the image carrier covering member is disposed at a position covering the exposed portion.

Next, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 and 2 show an image forming apparatus 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image forming apparatus 10 includes an image forming apparatus main body 16.

  A front-side opening / closing part 18 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 16 so that it can be opened and closed with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 16 using a hinge 20. Further, the main opening / closing portion 26 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 16 so that it can be opened and closed with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 16 using a hinge 28. An operation unit 32 is attached to the front side of the image forming apparatus main body 16.

  A supply opening / closing part 22 is attached to the front opening / closing part 18 so as to be opened and closed. The supply opening / closing part 22 is normally closed with respect to the front opening / closing part 18 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. When a sheet different from a sheet stored in a sheet supply device 510 described later is used, the supply opening / closing part 22 is opened with respect to the front opening / closing part 18.

  The main opening / closing part 26 is normally closed with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 16. The main opening / closing portion 26 is opened when a photoreceptor unit 200Y, 200M, 200C, 200B, which will be described later, is attached to or detached from the image forming apparatus main body 16. Prior to opening the main opening / closing portion 26, the front opening / closing portion 18 is attached to the main opening / closing portion 26 in order to prevent a support roll 70, an intermediate transfer belt 62 and the like described later from interfering with the front opening / closing portion 18. Opened to the image forming apparatus main body 16.

  When closing the front opening / closing part 18 with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 16, the main opening / closing part 26 is closed with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 16 prior to closing the front opening / closing part 18. The main opening / closing part 26 has an upper surface used as a discharge part 27 for discharging a sheet on which an image is formed.

  A sub-opening / closing part 30 is attached to the main opening / closing part 26 so as to be able to open / close with respect to the main opening / closing part 26. The sub opening / closing part 30 can be opened / closed independently of the main opening / closing part 26, and the main opening / closing part 26 is closed with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 16 and is open with respect to the main opening / closing part 26. can do. The sub opening / closing unit 30 is opened when all or a part of a cleaning device 90 described later is attached to or detached from the image forming apparatus main body 16.

  The operation unit 32 includes, for example, a numeric keypad for inputting the number of sheets on which an image is formed, a start button operated when starting image formation, and the like.

  In the image forming apparatus main body 16, an image forming unit 40 for forming an image on a sheet is provided. The image forming unit 40 includes, for example, four photoconductor units 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K.

  Each of the photoconductor units 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K is used as an image forming structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and includes photoconductor drums 210Y, 210M, 210C, and 210K. The photoconductor units 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K are arranged in the order of the photoconductor units 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K from the rear side (left side in FIG. 2) of the image forming apparatus main body 16. Details of the photoreceptor units 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K will be described later.

  Each of the photosensitive drums 210Y, 210M, 210C, and 210K is used as an image carrier.

  The image forming unit 40 includes an optical writing device 44 used as a latent image forming device. The optical writing device 44 irradiates each of the photosensitive drums 210Y, 210M, 210C, and 210K to form a latent image on the surface of each of the photosensitive drums 210Y, 210M, 210C, and 210K. .

  The image forming unit 40 includes developing devices 46Y, 46M, 46C, and 46K. The developing device 46Y develops the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 210Y using the yellow toner stored therein, and the developing device 46M develops the latent image formed on the photoconductor drum 210M using the stored magenta toner. The developing device 46C develops the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 210C using the cyan toner stored therein, and the developing device 46Y uses the black toner stored in the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 210Y. Develop.

  Further, the image forming unit 40 includes a transfer device 60. The transfer device 60 has an intermediate transfer belt 62 used as a transfer member. The intermediate transfer belt 62 is endless and is supported by support rolls 64, 66, 68, 70, 72 so as to be able to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2. At least one of the support rolls 64, 66, 68, 70, 72 is connected to a motor (not shown), and rotates upon receiving drive transmission from the motor to drive the intermediate transfer belt 62. introduce.

  The transfer device 60 includes primary transfer rolls 80Y, 80M, 80C, and 80K that are used as the primary transfer device. The primary transfer roll 80Y transfers the yellow toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 210Y to the intermediate transfer belt 62, and the primary transfer roll 80M sets magenta toner formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 210M. The image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 62, the primary transfer roll 80C transfers the cyan toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 210C to the intermediate transfer belt 62, and the primary transfer roll 80K is transferred to the photosensitive drum. The black toner image formed on the 210K surface is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 62.

  The transfer device 60 includes a secondary transfer roll 84 that is used as a secondary transfer device. The secondary transfer roll 84 further transfers the yellow toner image, magenta toner image, cyan toner image, and black toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 62 to the sheet.

  In addition, the transfer device 60 includes a cleaning device 90. The cleaning device 90 includes a scraping member 92 that scrapes off the toner of each color remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 62 after the toner image of each color is transferred to the sheet by the secondary transfer roll 84. In the main body of the cleaning device 90, the toner scraped off by the scraping member 92 is collected. The cleaning device 90 can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body 16 through an opening formed by opening the sub opening / closing part 30.

  Among the members constituting the transfer device 60, the intermediate transfer belt 62, the support rolls 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, the primary transfer rolls 80 Y, 80 M, 80 C, 80 K, and the cleaning device 90 are mounted on the main opening / closing part 26. Has been. Of the transfer device 60, the secondary transfer roll 84 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 16.

  Further, a fixing device 50 for fixing the toner image transferred onto the sheet by the secondary transfer roll 84 on the sheet is provided in the image forming apparatus main body 16.

  A collection container 300 is provided in the image forming apparatus main body 16. In the collection container 300, excess developer discharged from the developing devices 46Y, 46M, 46C, and 46K is collected. The collection container 300 is integrated with the photoconductor unit 200K, for example.

  In addition, a sheet supply device 510 that supplies sheets to the image forming unit 40 is mounted in the image forming apparatus main body 16. The sheet supply apparatus 510 can be pulled out to the front side (right side in FIG. 2) of the image forming apparatus main body 16, and the sheet is replenished in a state where the sheet supply apparatus 510 is pulled out from the image forming apparatus main body 16. .

  The sheet supply apparatus 510 includes a sheet storage container 512 that stores sheets such as plain paper in a stacked state. Further, the sheet supply apparatus 510 includes a transport roll 514 that extracts the uppermost sheet stored in the sheet storage container 512 and transports the extracted sheet toward the image forming unit 40. Further, the sheet supply device 510 has a retard roll 516 that is used to roll a sheet and prevent a plurality of sheets from being conveyed to the image forming unit 40 in a stacked state.

  In addition, a conveyance path 530 used for conveying a sheet is formed in the image forming apparatus main body 16. The conveyance path 530 includes a main conveyance path 532, a reverse conveyance path 534, and a sub conveyance path 536.

  The main conveyance path 532 is used for conveying the sheet supplied from the sheet supply apparatus 510 to the image forming unit 40 and discharging the sheet on which the image is formed to the outside of the image forming apparatus main body 16. Along the main conveyance path 532, the conveyance roll 514 and the retard roll 516, the registration roll 542, the secondary transfer roll 84, and the fixing device 50 described above are sequentially arranged from the upstream side in the direction in which the sheet is conveyed. And the discharge roll 544 is arrange | positioned.

  The registration roll 542 temporarily stops the leading end portion of the sheet conveyed from the sheet supply device 510 side, and performs secondary transfer of the sheet so that the toner image of each color is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 62. It sends out toward the roll 84.

  The discharge roll 544 discharges the sheet on which the toner of each color is fixed by the fixing device 50 to the outside of the image forming apparatus main body 16.

  The reverse conveyance path 534 is a conveyance path used for reversing and feeding the sheet on which the toner image is formed on one surface toward the image forming unit 40. For example, two reverse transfer rolls 548 and 548 are arranged along the reverse transfer path 534. In the reverse conveyance path 534, the discharge roll 544 rotates in the reverse direction with the rear end portion of the sheet sandwiched therebetween, so that the sheet is supplied from the rear end side, and the supplied sheet is supplied by the reverse conveyance rollers 548 and 548. It is conveyed to a position upstream of the resist roll 542.

  The sub-transport path 536 is a transport path for supplying the image forming unit 40 with a sheet different from the sheets stored in the sheet supply apparatus 510. A sheet is supplied to the sub-conveying path 536 from the front side of the image forming apparatus main body 16 with the supply opening / closing part 22 opened. A transport roll 552 and a retard roll 554 are provided along the sub-transport path 536. The conveyance roll 552 is supplied to the sub conveyance path 536 and conveys the sheet toward the image forming unit 40. The retard roll 554 is used to roll the sheet supplied to the sub-conveying path 536 and prevent the sheet from being conveyed to the image forming unit 40 in a state where a plurality of sheets are overlapped.

  FIG. 3 shows how the photosensitive unit 200 is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body 16. As shown in FIG. 3, when the main opening / closing part 26 is opened with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 16, the intermediate transfer belt 62, the support rolls 64, 66, 68, 70, 72 of the transfer apparatus 60, and the primary transfer roll 80Y. , 80M, 80C, 80K and the cleaning device 90 move together with the main opening / closing portion 26, and the opening 36 is formed in the image forming apparatus main body 16. The photoreceptor units 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K are attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body 16 through the openings 36, respectively. The collection container 300 is integrated with the photosensitive unit 200K as described above. For this reason, the collection container 300 is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body 16 together with the photosensitive unit 200.

  4 and 5 show the photoreceptor unit 200M. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the photoconductor unit 200M has a photoconductor unit main body 202M, and the photoconductor drum 210M described above is mounted on the photoconductor unit main body 202M. At least a part of the photosensitive drum 210M is exposed to the outside of the photosensitive unit main body 202M as an exposed portion 212M.

  A charging device 220M for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 210M is mounted in the photosensitive unit main body 202M. The charging device 220M includes a charging roll 222M that comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 210M. A latent image is written on the surface of the photosensitive drum 210M uniformly charged by the charging device 220M by the optical writing device 44 (see FIG. 1).

  Further, a scraping member 224M used as a cleaning device is mounted in the photoconductor unit main body 202M. The scraping member 224M scrapes off the magenta toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 210M after the magenta toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 62 by the primary transfer roll 80M (see FIG. 1).

  Further, a recovery chamber 226M for recovering magenta toner scraped off from the surface of the photoreceptor drum 210M by the scraping member 224M is provided in the photoreceptor unit main body 202M.

  A shutter member 230M is attached to the photoconductor unit main body 202M. The shutter member 230M holds an image that moves between a position that covers the exposed portion 212M of the photosensitive drum 210M (hereinafter referred to as a “covered position”) and a position that is separated from the exposed portion 212M (hereinafter referred to as a separated position). It is used as a body covering member and is mounted on the photoreceptor unit main body 202 so as to be able to rotate around a center axis 232 that substantially coincides with the center axis of the photoreceptor drum 210M. The above-described covering position corresponds to the first position, and the above-described separated position corresponds to the second position.

  In addition, a concave portion 240M is formed in the photoconductor unit main body 202M at a substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction of the photoconductor unit main body 202M.

  The shutter member 230M includes an arc-shaped portion 234M that is bent so as to substantially match the outer peripheral shape of the photosensitive drum 210, and a side plate portion 236M that protrudes from both ends of the arc-shaped portion 234M. The arc-shaped portion 234M is used to cover the exposed portion 212M, and the side plate portion 236M is supported by the photoconductor unit main body 202M. Of the side plate portions 236M, the illustration of the side plate portion 236M protruding from the right side of the arc-shaped portion 234M is omitted, and only the side plate portion 236M protruding from the left side of the arc-shaped portion 234M is shown (see FIG. 5). ).

  Further, a link mechanism 400 mounted in the image forming apparatus main body 16 is connected to the shutter member 230M. The link mechanism 400 will be described later.

  The shutter member 230M is provided with a gripping portion 250M that is gripped at least during transportation. The grip portion 250M is used, for example, for attaching and detaching the photoreceptor unit 200M in the image forming apparatus main body 16 (see FIG. 3), and is gripped by an operator when the photoreceptor unit 200M is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body 16. The

  The grip portion 250M is integrated with the shutter member 230M so as to protrude from the arc-shaped portion 234M to the opposite side of the photosensitive drum 210M. For this reason, it is possible to move the shutter member 230M between a position where the shutter member 230M is covered and a position where the shutter member 230M is separated by using the grip portion 250M, and no other special mechanism for moving the shutter member 230M is necessary.

  FIG. 6 illustrates the operation of the shutter member 230M. FIG. 6A shows a state in which the shutter member 230M is disposed at a position separated from the exposed portion 212M of the photosensitive drum 210M. b) shows a state in which the shutter member 230M is arranged at a position covering the exposed portion 212M. As described above, the operator moves the shutter member 230M between the separated position and the covering position by using the grip portion 250M.

  When the gripping part 250M is gripped by an operation and the photoreceptor unit 200M is lifted by the operator, the shutter member 230M is stabilized at the covering position shown in FIG. 6B by the action of gravity applied to the photoreceptor unit 200M. It will be in the state. Therefore, during the conveyance of the photoconductor unit 200M, the exposed position 212M is covered with the shutter member 230M, and the exposed portion 212M of the photoconductor drum 210M is protected.

  6A. When the shutter member 230M is disposed at the spaced position shown in FIG. 6A, when the gripper 250M is gripped to lift the photoreceptor unit main body 202M, the shutter member 230M is first moved to the position shown in FIG. It moves to the covering position shown in b), and the photosensitive unit main body 202M is lifted in that state.

  When the photoconductor unit 200M is mounted in the image forming apparatus main body 16 and the shutter member 230M is in a separated position as shown in FIG. 6A, the grip portion 250M of the shutter member 230M is The intermediate transfer belt 62 is disposed closer to the photosensitive drum 210M than the intermediate transfer belt 62, and the shutter member 230M and the intermediate transfer belt 62 do not interfere with each other (see FIG. 4).

  Note that the photoconductor units 200Y, 200C, and 200K have the same configuration as the photoconductor unit 200M although the color of the toner used is different, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 7 shows a link mechanism 400.
The link mechanism 400 is connected to the shutter member 230Y included in the photoreceptor unit 200Y as described above. Similarly, a shutter member 230M included in the photoconductor unit 200M, a shutter member 230C included in the photoconductor unit 200C, and a shutter member 230K included in the photoconductor unit 200K are connected to the link mechanism 400. For this reason, the shutter member 230Y, the shutter member 230M, the shutter member 230C, and the shutter member 230K are connected to each other via the link mechanism 400.

  The shutter member 230Y, the shutter member 230M, the shutter member 230C, and the shutter member 230K are connected to each other, whereby one of the shutter member 230Y, the shutter member 230M, the shutter member 230C, and the shutter member 230K is operated. The other three shutter members are also moved in conjunction with the operated shutter member. For example, when the gripper 250Y is operated to move the shutter member 230Y from the position covering the shutter member 230Y, the shutter member 230M, the shutter member 230C, and the shutter member 230K are separated from the positions covered by the movement. Move to. In addition, for example, when the shutter member 230M is moved from the separated position to the covering position by operating the grip portion 250M, the shutter member 230Y, the shutter member 230M, and the shutter member 230K are moved from the separated positions in conjunction with this. Move to the covering position.

  FIG. 8 shows the photoreceptor units 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K mounted in the image forming apparatus main body 16. As shown in FIG. 8, the recess 240Y of the photoconductor unit 200Y is formed at a position facing the grip portion 250M of the photoconductor unit 200M which is another adjacent photoconductor unit. Similarly, the recess 240M of the photoconductor unit 200M is formed at a position facing the grip portion 250C of the photoconductor unit 200C that is another adjacent photoconductor unit. Similarly, the recess 240C of the photoconductor unit 200C is formed at a position facing the grip portion 250K of the photoconductor unit 200K that is another adjacent photoconductor unit.

  In addition, the recesses 240Y, 240M, 240C, and 240K are formed at substantially central portions in the longitudinal direction of the photoconductor unit main bodies 202Y, 202M, 202C, and 202K, respectively.

  FIG. 9 shows photoconductor units 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K according to a modification mounted in the image forming apparatus main body 16. In the photoreceptor units 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, one recess 240Y, 240M, 240C, and 240K is formed in each. On the other hand, in the photoconductor units 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K according to this modification, two concave portions 240Y, 240M, 240C, and 240K are formed, respectively.

  Further, in the photoreceptor units 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K according to the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the recesses 240Y, 240M, 240C, and 240K are respectively in the longitudinal direction of the photoreceptor unit main bodies 202Y, 202M, 202C, and 202K. It was formed in the approximate center. On the other hand, in the photoreceptor units 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K according to this modification, the recesses 240Y, 240M, 240C, and 240K are both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the photoreceptor units 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K. It is formed to be located on the side.

FIG. 10 shows a photoconductor unit 200M according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 10, the photoconductor unit 200M according to the second embodiment includes an image carrier support in addition to the configuration of the photoconductor unit 200M (see FIG. 4) according to the first embodiment. An auxiliary shutter member 256M used as a covering member is provided. The auxiliary shutter member 256M is supported so that it can move to the support member 258M. More specifically, the auxiliary shutter member 256M can move to a position covering the photosensitive drum 210M, and when the shutter member 230M moves, the auxiliary shutter member 256M moves in a direction opposite to the direction in which the shutter member 230M moves. ing.

  That is, when the shutter member 230M moves in the clockwise direction around the photosensitive drum 210M from the separated position shown in FIG. 10A to the covering position shown in FIG. 10B, the auxiliary shutter member 256M is moved to the photosensitive member. Move around the drum 210M in the counterclockwise direction. Further, when the shutter member 230M moves counterclockwise around the photosensitive drum 210M from the covering position shown in FIG. 10B to the separated position shown in FIG. 10A, the auxiliary shutter member 256M is photosensitive. It moves around the body drum 210M in the clockwise direction.

  By providing the auxiliary shutter member 256M, the area covered by the other members on the surface of the photosensitive drum 210M is increased in a state where the auxiliary shutter member 256M is disposed at the position covered by the shutter member 230M.

  In the above description, the photoconductor units 200Y and 200M. The case where all of 200C and 200K have the same shape and the same configuration has been described as an example, but the photoconductor units 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K may have different shapes and configurations.

  As described above, the present invention can be applied to image forming apparatuses such as copying machines, printers, and facsimile machines, and image forming structures used in these image forming apparatuses.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image forming apparatus 16 ... Image forming apparatus main body 200 ... Photoconductor unit 202 ... Photoconductor unit main body 210 ... Photoconductor drum 212 ... Exposed part 230 ... Shutter member 240 ... Recess part 250 ... Holding part 256 ... Auxiliary shutter member 400 ... Link mechanism

Claims (8)

An imaging structure body;
An image carrier mounted in the imaging structure such that at least a portion of the imaging structure is exposed;
Movable between a first position that covers the portion of the image carrier that is exposed from the main body of the image forming structure and a second position that is spaced from the portion of the image carrier that is exposed from the image forming structure. An image carrier covering member,
An image carrier auxiliary covering member that is movable to a position that covers the image carrier, and that moves in a direction opposite to the direction in which the image covering member moves when the image carrier covering member moves;
Have
An image forming structure in which the image carrier covering member is provided with at least a gripping part to be gripped during transportation.   The image forming structure according to claim 1, wherein the grip portion is used for moving the image carrier covering member.   The image forming structure according to claim 1, wherein the grip portion is used for attaching to and detaching from the image forming apparatus main body. Of the image forming structure, the image forming apparatus to another adjacent image forming structure gripping portion according to any one of claims 1 to 3 recess is formed in a position facing with the state of being mounted in the body Imaging structure. The image forming structure according to claim 4 , wherein the concave portion is disposed at a substantially central portion in a longitudinal direction of the image forming structure main body. 5. The image forming structure according to claim 4 , wherein two concave portions are formed so as to be positioned on both end sides in the longitudinal direction of the image forming structure main body. 6. An image forming apparatus main body;
An image forming structure attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body;
Have
The imaging structure is
An imaging structure body;
An image carrier mounted in the imaging structure such that at least a portion of the imaging structure is exposed;
Movable between a first position that covers the portion of the image carrier that is exposed from the main body of the image forming structure and a second position that is spaced from the portion of the image carrier that is exposed from the image forming structure. An image carrier covering member,
An image carrier auxiliary covering member that is movable to a position that covers the image carrier, and that moves in a direction opposite to the direction in which the image covering member moves when the image carrier covering member moves;
Have
An image forming apparatus in which the image carrier covering member is provided with a grip portion that is gripped at least during transportation. A plurality of the image forming structures are attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising a connecting mechanism that connects the image carrier covering members respectively included in the plurality of image forming structures.

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