JP5394549B1 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A stable communication state between a storage device provided in a consumable container and an image forming apparatus is maintained.
An image forming apparatus is fitted to a toner cartridge 71, a storage device 201, a cartridge mounting portion 65, a connector 211, a fitting convex portion 71d of the toner cartridge 71, and a fitting convex portion 71d, with the lower portion as a center. A fitting recess 65b of the cartridge mounting portion 65 is provided to hold the toner cartridge 71 rotatably in the mounting completion position and in the opposite direction.
[Selection] Figure 13

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a consumable container.

  In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to an image to be printed is formed in a process unit, and the electrostatic latent image is visualized. Specifically, the process unit includes a photoconductor and a developing device, forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor, and develops or visualizes the electrostatic latent image with toner supplied from the developing device. The toner image formed on the surface of the photoconductor by development is transferred to, for example, a transfer belt, and further transferred from the transfer belt onto a sheet, and then fixed on the sheet in a fixing device.

  In the image forming apparatus, when the toner of the developing device is consumed by development, the toner is appropriately replenished from the toner cartridge to the developing device. Further, the toner cartridge is replaced with a new one when the toner becomes empty.

  As described above, the consumable container such as the toner cartridge is removed from the image forming apparatus when the stored consumables such as toner are exhausted, and a new one is attached to the image forming apparatus.

  The consumable container is usually provided with a storage device that stores information specific to the consumable container. When the consumable container is attached to the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus stores the consumable container. Communicate with the device. As a result, the image forming apparatus acquires information from the storage device of the consumable container and prevents erroneous mounting of the same consumable container.

  As described above, as a configuration for mounting the consumable container on the image forming apparatus, those described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are known.

  In the configuration described in Patent Document 1, an ink cartridge is detachably mounted on a cartridge mounting portion of an ink jet recording apparatus. Two positioning holes are formed in the front surface of the ink cartridge, and two positioning pins are provided in the cartridge mounting portion corresponding to the positioning holes. Therefore, when the ink cartridge is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion, if the ink cartridge is linearly moved toward the cartridge mounting portion, the positioning pin of the cartridge mounting portion is inserted into the positioning hole of the ink cartridge, and the ink cartridge is positioned. Is done.

  Further, the ink cartridge is provided with a memory substrate on which a memory chip is mounted. When the ink cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion, the electrical contact of the memory substrate contacts the connection terminal of the cartridge mounting portion, and the memory substrate, that is, the memory The chip is electrically connected to the control circuit of the ink jet recording apparatus.

  In the configuration described in Patent Document 2, a drum cartridge, which is a process cartridge, is detachably attached to the color laser printer. The drum cartridge is provided with a drum shaft and a positioning pin, and the drum cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body by linearly moving the drum cartridge toward the apparatus main body. In this case, the drum shaft and the positioning pin are fitted into the coupling member and the positioning hole of the apparatus main body, respectively, and the drum cartridge is positioned with respect to the apparatus main body.

  Further, a memory chip is provided on the front surface of the drum cartridge, and this memory chip is attached to the concave bottom portion of the concave cartridge side connector. On the other hand, a convex body-side connector is provided on the apparatus body side. Therefore, when the drum cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body, the above-described connectors are concavo-convexly fitted, and the memory chip is electrically connected to the apparatus main body.

JP 2008-36984 A (published February 21, 2008) JP 10-49032 A (published February 20, 1998) JP 2008-216451 A (published September 18, 2008) JP 2007-652781 (published on March 15, 2007)

  In the configuration described in Patent Document 1, since the positioning pin of the cartridge mounting portion is inserted into the positioning hole of the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is mounted, the positioning accuracy of the ink cartridge with respect to the ink jet recording apparatus is improved.

  However, when the replacement frequency of the ink cartridge increases, the positioning pin gradually deforms, for example, when the user detaches the ink cartridge, the front surface of the ink cartridge collides with the positioning pin and the positioning pin falls down. Will happen. In this case, the positioning accuracy of the ink cartridge is lowered, and accordingly, the connection failure between the electrical contact of the memory board and the connection terminal of the cartridge mounting portion occurs, and the stable connection state between the memory chip and the control circuit (communication) State) may be difficult to obtain.

  Such a problem also applies to the configuration described in Patent Document 2, and the drum shaft and the positioning pin are deformed by the collision between the apparatus main body and the drum cartridge, and the positioning accuracy of the drum cartridge is lowered. As a result, it may be difficult to obtain a stable connection state (communication state) between the memory chip and the apparatus main body.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, even when the consumable container is frequently replaced, the positioning accuracy of the consumable container with respect to the image forming apparatus is stable over a long period of time. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of maintaining a stable communication state with the apparatus.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a consumable container, a storage device provided in the consumable container, a consumable container mounting unit on which the consumable container is mounted, A connection device that generates an electrical connection to the storage device in a state in which the consumable container is disposed at a mounting completion position with respect to the consumable container mounting portion; and a first member provided at a lower portion of the consumable container , Provided at a position corresponding to the lower portion of the consumable container mounting portion, fitted to the first member, and capable of rotating the consumable container in the mounting completion position and in the opposite direction around the lower portion. And a second member to be held.

  According to the above configuration, when the consumable container is mounted on the consumable container mounting portion and disposed at the mounting completion position, the first member provided at the lower portion of the consumable container is disposed at the consumable container mounting portion. The consumables container is fitted to a second member provided at a position corresponding to the lower part of the consumable container, and is rotated about the lower part of the consumable container to the mounting completion position.

  In the state where the consumable container is disposed at the mounting completion position, an electrical connection state between the storage device provided in the consumable container and the connection device, that is, an electrical connection state by wire or wireless occurs. Accordingly, communication between the storage device and the image forming apparatus, for example, a control device included in the image forming apparatus is possible.

  Therefore, for example, the consumable container is temporarily held by a consumable container holding member such as an opening / closing door, and then the consumable container holding member is rotated to place the consumable container at the mounting completion position (Patent Documents 3 and 4). ), The consumable container can be accurately placed at the mounting completion position without being affected by the deformation of the consumable container holding member over time. Further, for example, as compared with a configuration in which the consumable container is disposed at the mounting completion position by inserting the positioning pin into the positioning hole of the consumable container, the positioning pin is caused by the collision of the consumable container and the deformation of the positioning pin. The consumable container can be accurately placed at the mounting completion position without being affected by the positional deviation from the positioning hole.

  As a result, even when the consumable container is frequently replaced, the positioning accuracy of the consumable container with respect to the image forming apparatus is stable over a long period of time. A stable communication state can be maintained.

  In the image forming apparatus, the consumable container is a toner cartridge, and the toner cartridge includes a toner supply port at a lower end portion and a shutter that opens and closes the toner supply port, and the shutter includes the toner cartridge. It is good also as a structure open | released with the rotation to a mounting completion position direction.

  According to the above configuration, the consumable container is the toner cartridge, and the shutter of the toner cartridge is opened in accordance with the rotation of the toner cartridge toward the mounting completion position.

  Accordingly, when the toner cartridge is disposed at the mounting completion position, the toner replenishing port is opened, and the toner can be replenished from the toner cartridge.

  In the above image forming apparatus, the consumable container may be a toner cartridge, the toner cartridge may include a toner storage unit that stores toner, and the storage device may be provided on the toner storage unit. Good.

  According to the above configuration, since the storage device is provided on the toner container of the toner cartridge, for example, even when the toner leaking from the toner cartridge is scattered, the toner is stored in the storage device or the connection device. It is difficult to adhere. Accordingly, communication failure between the storage device and the connection device due to the scattered toner is unlikely to occur, and the function of stably communicating between the storage device and the image forming apparatus over a long period of time can be further enhanced.

  In the above image forming apparatus, the storage device has a convex portion that is a portion at least partially protruding from a surface of the toner cartridge that faces the consumable container mounting portion, and the connection device includes the convex portion. It is good also as a structure which has the fitting recessed part by which a part is fitted.

  According to the above configuration, when the toner cartridge is rotated and disposed at the mounting completion position, the convex portion of the storage device is fitted into the fitting concave portion of the connection device. In this case, since the storage device is provided on the toner accommodating portion of the toner cartridge, the rotation radius of the storage device, that is, the convex portion is the maximum rotation radius of the toner cartridge or a rotation radius close thereto. Thereby, fitting with the convex part of a memory | storage device and the fitting recessed part of a connection apparatus can be performed smoothly.

  In the above image forming apparatus, the consumable container is detachably attached to either the left or right side surface of the image forming apparatus, and the one side surface of the housing of the image forming apparatus has a lower portion A side opening / closing door is provided that can be opened and closed by rotating in a vertical direction around the center, and can be opened to an open position where the consumable container can be attached and detached, and the first member and the second member are In a state where the side opening / closing door is opened, the consumable container is fitted to each other by moving the consumable container obliquely downward from above with respect to the one side surface, and the consumable container is moved in the opposite direction. It is good also as a structure by which fitting is cancelled | released by this.

  According to the above configuration, the first member of the consumable container and the second member of the consumable container mounting portion are configured such that the consumable container is placed on one side of the image forming apparatus in a state where the side opening / closing door is opened. Then, they are fitted to each other by moving obliquely downward from above, and the fitting is released by moving the consumable container in the opposite direction.

  Therefore, the consumable container attachment / detachment operation with respect to the image forming apparatus can be performed in a state where the side opening / closing door is opened at an angle smaller than 90 ° with respect to the side surface of the image forming apparatus. That is, the rotation area of the side opening / closing door when the consumable container is attached to or detached from the image forming apparatus can be reduced, and the work space on the side of the image forming apparatus required when attaching or detaching the consumable container is reduced. can do.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the consumable container is a toner cartridge, and includes a waste toner box that is detachably attached to a lower position of the toner cartridge and stores the collected waste toner. Is openable to a first opening position having an acute opening angle and a second opening position having an opening angle larger than the first opening position, and the toner cartridge is detachable in the first opening position, The waste toner box may be detachable at the second open position.

  According to the above configuration, the replacement operation of the toner cartridge is performed by opening the side opening / closing door to the first opening position of the acute opening angle, and the replacement operation of the waste toner box is performed by moving the side opening / closing door to the first opening position. It opens to the 2nd open position of a larger open angle.

  Therefore, the replacement operation of the toner cartridge and the waste toner box can be performed with the same side opening / closing door opened, so that these operations can be easily performed. In addition, since the number of doors required for the image forming apparatus can be reduced, the structure of the image forming apparatus can be simplified.

  The toner cartridge replacement operation can be performed in a state in which the side opening / closing door is opened to the first opening position of a narrow angle (acute angle), and therefore the side opening / closing door is opened to the side of the image forming apparatus. This is possible if a relatively small space that can be opened to the position can be secured.

  Thus, even when an arrangement such as a document file exists on one side of the image forming apparatus having the side opening / closing door, the image forming apparatus or the arrangement around the image forming apparatus is not moved. The toner cartridge can be replaced. Further, the replacement frequency of the toner cartridge is much higher than the replacement frequency of the waste toner box. Thereby, even in an environment where the installation space of the image forming apparatus is easily limited such as a small office or a home office, it is possible to easily replace the toner cartridge with a high replacement frequency.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, even when the consumable container is frequently replaced, the positioning accuracy of the consumable container with respect to the image forming apparatus is stable for a long time, and the storage device provided in the consumable container A stable communication state with the image forming apparatus can be maintained.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an internal structure of the image forming main body device when the image forming main body device in the embodiment of the present invention is viewed from the right side. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a process unit in a state of being removed from the image forming main body apparatus shown in FIG. 1. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus with an automatic document feeder and a housing removed according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus illustrating a state in which a toner cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a front view of the image forming main body device viewed from the right side showing a state where a toner cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion shown in FIG. 3. 6A is a front view when the waste toner box shown in FIG. 5 is viewed from the front on the right side of the image forming main body apparatus, and FIG. 6B is a rear view of the waste toner box. FIG. 6 is a front view of the image forming main body apparatus shown in FIG. 5 as viewed from the right side showing a state where a toner cartridge and a waste toner box are removed. FIG. 6 is a side view schematically showing the toner cartridge shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 9 is a front view of the toner cartridge illustrated in FIG. 8. FIG. 4 is a front view schematically showing a cartridge mounting portion shown in FIG. 3. It is AA arrow sectional drawing in FIG. FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical connection state between a storage device included in the toner cartridge illustrated in FIG. 11 and an image forming apparatus. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the toner cartridge illustrated in FIG. 8 is moved obliquely downward from above and the fitting convex portion is inserted into the fitting concave portion of the cartridge mounting portion. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state where the mounting of the toner cartridge illustrated in FIG. 8 to the cartridge mounting unit is completed. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a structure of a toner intermediate receiving member provided in the image forming main body apparatus illustrated in FIG. 5. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other arrangement | positioning form of the memory | storage device and connector shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing an open / closed state of a side opening / closing door in the image forming main body apparatus shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 18A shows a case where the side opening / closing door is disposed at the closed position and a case where it is opened at the first opening position when viewed from the front side of the image forming main body apparatus shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of an open angle adjustment mechanism part. FIG. 18B is a front view showing a connecting member provided in the opening angle adjusting mechanism shown in FIG. 18C illustrates the state of the opening angle adjustment mechanism when the side opening / closing door is opened to the second opening position when viewed from the front side of the image forming main body apparatus illustrated in FIG. FIG. FIG. 19A illustrates the state of the opening angle adjusting mechanism when the side opening / closing door is opened to the first opening position when viewed from the right side of the image forming main body apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. FIG. 19B illustrates the state of the opening angle adjustment mechanism when the side opening / closing door is opened to the second opening position when viewed from the right side of the image forming main body apparatus illustrated in FIG. FIG. FIG. 20A is a plan view showing a replacement operation of the toner cartridge of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 3 by an operator who uses a wheelchair. FIG. 20B is a plan view showing an operation state of the image forming apparatus with respect to the main power source by an operator who uses a wheelchair. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a document file is placed at a right side position having a side opening / closing door of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3 is arranged in a cabinet and a vase is placed at a position on the right side having a side opening / closing door of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 23 (a) is an explanatory view showing another example of the side opening / closing door shown in FIG. 17, and FIG. 23 (b) shows a state where the upper part of the side opening / closing door shown in FIG. 23 (a) is opened. FIG. 23 (c) is an explanatory view showing a structure for holding the door upper part shown in FIG. 23 (a) in a closed state. FIG. 24A is an explanatory diagram showing a state of the opening angle adjustment mechanism when the side opening / closing door is in the closed position in the image forming main body apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 24B is an explanatory diagram when the opening angle adjusting mechanism shown in FIG. 24A is viewed from the right side of the image forming main body. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of the opening angle adjustment mechanism part in case the side surface opening / closing door shown to Fig.24 (a) is open | released to the 1st open position. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of the opening angle adjustment mechanism part in case the side surface opening / closing door shown to Fig.24 (a) is open | released to the 2nd open position. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of an opening angle adjustment mechanism part in case the side surface opening / closing door shown to Fig.24 (a) is open | released to the 3rd open position. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration when a storage device disposed in the toner cartridge illustrated in FIG. 14 communicates with an image forming apparatus wirelessly.

[Embodiment 1]
(Overall configuration of image forming apparatus)
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the right side facing the image forming apparatus is called the right side of the image forming apparatus, and the left side facing the image forming apparatus is called the left side of the image forming apparatus.

  An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an automatic document feeder on an image forming main unit. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the internal structure of the image forming main body device 2 when the image forming main body device 2 is viewed from the right side. In FIG. 1, the left side is the front side of the image forming main body apparatus 2, and the right side is the back side.

  In the present embodiment, the image forming main body device 2 is a full-color printer. Therefore, the image forming main body device 2 prints a color image on a sheet (sheet-like recording medium) according to image data transmitted from the outside. Here, the image forming main unit 2 is exemplified as a printer, but it may be a copier, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine having these functions. In this case, the image forming main body device 2 prints a multicolor or single color image on a sheet according to image data transmitted from the outside and / or image data read from a document by a scanner.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming main body device 2 is provided with a process unit 11 at the center in the vertical direction. A laser optical system unit 12 and a paper feed cassette 13 are provided below the process unit 11 sequentially from the top. Further, a transfer unit 14 is provided at a position on the back side with respect to the process unit 11, and a fixing unit 15 is provided above the transfer unit 14. An upper surface of the housing of the image forming main body 2 above the process unit 11 is a paper discharge tray 16.

  A paper transport path 17 is formed in the path from the paper feed cassette 13 to the paper discharge tray 16, and the paper transport path 17 has a paper feed roller 18, A timing roller 19, the transfer unit 14, the fixing unit 15, and a paper discharge roller 20 are provided.

  The process unit 11 includes first to fourth image forming units 31 to 34, an intermediate transfer belt unit 35, and a transfer belt cleaning device 36.

  The first to fourth image forming units 31 to 34 are for yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively.

  The first image forming unit 31 includes a photoreceptor drum 41a, a charger 42a, a developing device 43a, an intermediate transfer roller 44a, and a photoreceptor cleaner unit 45a.

  The charger 42a charges the surface of each photosensitive drum 41a to a predetermined potential. The developing device 43a develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 41a with toner by exposing the photosensitive drum 41a to the laser light from the laser optical system unit 12. The intermediate transfer roller 44 a is disposed on the back surface of the intermediate transfer belt 51, and transfers the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 41 a by development onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 61 of the intermediate transfer belt unit 35. The photoconductor cleaning device 45a removes and collects residual toner and paper dust on the surface of the photoconductor drum 41a after development and image transfer.

  Similarly, the second image forming unit 32 includes a photoreceptor drum 41b, a charger 42b, a developing device 43b, an intermediate transfer roller 44b, and a photoreceptor cleaning device 45a. The third image forming unit 33 includes a photoreceptor drum 41c, a charger 42c, a developing device 43c, an intermediate transfer roller 44c, and a photoreceptor cleaning device 45c. The fourth image forming unit 34 includes a photoreceptor drum 41d, a charger 42d, a developing device 43d, an intermediate transfer roller 44d, and a photoreceptor cleaning device 45d.

  The intermediate transfer belt unit 35 includes an intermediate transfer belt 51, a driving roller 52 that supports the intermediate transfer belt 51, a driven roller 53, and tension rollers 54 and 55.

  The transfer belt cleaning device 36 removes residual toner and paper dust from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 51.

  The laser optical system unit 12 includes laser light sources 12a to 12d corresponding to the photosensitive drums 41a to 41d, and irradiates the photosensitive drums 41a to 41d with laser light from the laser light sources 12a to 12d. The electrostatic latent images corresponding to the image to be printed are formed on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 41a to 41d.

  The transfer unit 14 includes a transfer roller 14 a that is pressed against the drive roller 52 of the intermediate transfer belt unit 35 via the intermediate transfer belt 51, and a sheet on which the toner image on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 51 is supplied from the paper feed cassette 13. Transcript to.

  The fixing unit 15 includes a fixing roller 15a and a pressure roller 15b, and melts and fixes the toner image on the paper to the paper.

(Image forming operation)
In the image forming main body 2 having the above configuration, when printing a color image, the laser optical system unit 12 irradiates the photosensitive drums 41a to 41d with laser light in accordance with the input image data, and the photosensitive member. Electrostatic latent images are formed on the drums 41a to 41d. These electrostatic latent images are developed with toner supplied from developing devices 43a to 43d, and yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner images are formed on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 41a to 41d, respectively.

  These toner images are transferred to the same position on the intermediate transfer belt 51 of the intermediate transfer belt unit 35 so as to overlap each other, and further transferred onto the paper in the transfer unit 14.

  The sheet is fed from the sheet feeding cassette 13 to the sheet conveying path 17 by the sheet feeding roller 18, and is supplied to the transfer unit 14 by the timing roller 19 at a timing coincident with the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 51.

  The sheet on which the toner image is transferred in the transfer unit 14 is conveyed to the fixing unit 15, and the toner image is fixed on the sheet in the fixing unit 15. Thereafter, the paper is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 16 by the paper discharge roller 20.

  In the image forming apparatus 1, since the fixing unit 15 is located on the back side, the heat (hot air) generated in the fixing unit 15 is transmitted to the user located on the front side of the image forming apparatus 1. Will never feel uncomfortable.

(Process unit)
Here, the process unit 11 is replaced with a new one after, for example, printing a predetermined number of sheets. In this case, the process unit 11 can be removed from and inserted into the right side (the front side in FIG. 1) of the image forming main unit 2 with respect to the image forming main unit 2. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the process unit 11 in a state of being removed from the image forming main body device 2.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the process unit 11, the waste toner transport pipe 36a connected to the transfer belt cleaning device 36 and the waste toner transport pipes 45a1 to 45d1 connected to the photoconductor cleaning devices 45a to 45d Projecting to the right side of the device 2.

Next, the arrangement state of the automatic document feeder, cartridge mounting unit, toner cartridge, and waste toner box in the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus 1 with the automatic document feeder 3 and the housing removed.
(Automatic document feeder)
As shown in FIG. 3, the automatic document feeder 3 is provided on the image forming main body device 2. The automatic document feeder 3 includes a document set tray 61 and a paper discharge tray 62. The document placed on the document set tray 61 is transported to a document reading unit (not shown) and then discharged onto the paper discharge tray 62. . The document reading unit is provided inside the automatic document feeder 3 and above the image forming main body device 2.

  In the present embodiment, the automatic document feeder 3 conveys (feeds) a document placed on the document set tray 61 in the direction of the left surface of the image forming main body 2 when reading a document image. It has become. Specifically, the original is conveyed from the original set tray 61 toward the left side of the image forming main body apparatus 2, read by the original reading unit, then conveyed toward the right side of the image forming main body apparatus 2, and discharged. It is discharged onto the tray 62.

The paper feed cassette 13 can be pulled out to the front side of the image forming apparatus 1 (image forming main body apparatus 2) by pulling the handle 13a. In addition, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an operation panel 21 at the upper part of the position on the front side.
(Cartridge mounting part and toner cartridge)
As shown in FIG. 3, four cartridge mounting portions (consumable container mounting portions) 65 to 68 are provided in the upper portion of the right side position of the image forming main body 2 with respect to the process unit 11, and the waste toner is provided in the lower portion. A box 69 is provided. The cartridge mounting portions 65 to 68 have a vertically long shape in the vertical direction, and are arranged in the front-rear direction of the image forming apparatus 1 at the same height position. The cartridge mounting portions 65 to 68 have a structure in which adjacent ones are connected and integrated, and are provided corresponding to the developing devices 43a to 43d, respectively.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, toner cartridges (consumable containers) 71 to 74 are mounted on the cartridge mounting portions 65 to 68, respectively. 4 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus 1 showing a state in which the toner cartridges 71 to 74 are attached to the cartridge attachment portions 65 to 68 shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a front view as seen from the right side of the image forming main body 2 showing a state in which the toner cartridges 71 to 74 are attached to the cartridge attachment portions 65 to 68 shown in FIG.

  The toner cartridges 71 to 74 contain yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners, respectively. When the toner cartridges 71 to 74 are mounted in the cartridge mounting portions 65 to 68, the toner can be supplied to the corresponding developing devices 43a to 43d. The group of toner cartridges 71 to 74 are arranged on the right side of the image forming main body device 2 at a position closer to the front side with respect to the center position in the front-rear direction of the image forming main body device 2.

  Here, the upper portions of the cartridge mounting portions 65 to 68 are disposed inside the right vertical wall portion 82 of the left and right vertical wall portions 81 and 82 of the image forming main body apparatus 2. The vertical wall portions 81 and 82 are provided at the left and right positions of the paper discharge tray 16, and are formed so that the upper surface of the housing is higher than the upper surface of the paper discharge tray 16 in order to hold the paper on the paper discharge tray 16. Has been. As a result, by using the vertical wall portion 82 of the housing, the vertically long cartridge mounting portions 65 to 68, that is, the vertically long toner cartridges 71 to 74 can be efficiently arranged, and the toner cartridges 71 to 74 have a desired capacity. It is easy.

(Waste toner box)
As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the waste toner box 69 has a thin rectangular box shape. Specifically, the dimension in the left-right direction (the front-rear direction of the image forming main body apparatus 2) in FIG. 6A is longer than the dimension in the upper-lower direction, and the front-rear direction in FIG. The dimension of the left and right direction and the thickness of the waste toner box 69 is shorter than the dimension of the vertical direction. 6A is a front view of the waste toner box 69 when viewed from the front side on the right side of the image forming main body 2. FIG. 6B is a rear view of the waste toner box 69 (FIG. 6A). )

  Formed on the upper portion of the waste toner box 69 are first to fifth five extending portions 91 to 95 extending upward for taking in the waste toner and paper dust collected by each cleaning device of the process unit 11. Has been. The first to fifth extending portions 91 to 95 are connected to the internal space of the waste toner box 69. The height of the first extending portion 91 is higher than the heights of the other second to fifth extending portions 92 to 95, and the heights of the second to fifth extending portions 92 to 95 are the same. On the surfaces of the first to fifth extending portions 91 to 95 facing the process unit 11, circular hole-shaped waste toner intake ports 91a to 95a are formed, respectively.

  The waste toner box 69 can be easily attached to and detached from the image forming main body device 2. When the waste toner box 69 is attached to the image forming main body device 2, the waste toner intake port 91 a of the first extending portion 91 is connected to the transfer belt cleaning device 36, and the second to fifth extending portions 92 to 95 are connected. The waste toner intake ports 92a to 95a are connected to the photoreceptor cleaning devices 45a to 45d.

  To connect each cleaning device 36 and cleaning devices 45a to 45d to the waste toner box 69, as shown in FIG. 7, a waste toner transport pipe 36a connected to the transfer belt cleaning device 36, and a photoconductor cleaning device 45a. Waste toner transport pipes 45 a 1 to 45 d 1 connected to .about.45 d protrude to the position of the waste toner box 69. FIG. 7 is a front view of the image forming main body apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 5 as viewed from the right side showing a state where the toner cartridges 71 to 74 and the waste toner box 69 are removed.

  Therefore, when the waste toner box 69 is attached to the image forming main body device 2, the waste toner transport pipe 36 a connected to the transfer belt cleaning device 36 is inserted into the waste toner intake port 91 a of the first extension portion 91. Is done. Further, waste toner conveying pipes 45a1 to 45d1 connected to the photoconductor cleaning devices 45a to 45d are inserted into the waste toner intake ports 92a to 95a of the second to fifth extending portions 92 to 95, respectively. As a result, the first extending portion 91 takes in waste toner and paper dust from the transfer belt cleaning device 36. The second to fifth extending portions 92 to 95 take in waste toner and paper powder from the photoconductor cleaning devices 45a to 45d. The waste toner is transported from the cleaning devices 36 and 45a to 45d to the first to fifth extending portions 91 to 95 by, for example, a waste toner transport screw included in the cleaning devices 36 and 45a to 45d.

(Detailed structure of toner cartridge and cartridge mounting part)
Next, the structure of the toner cartridges 71 to 74 and the cartridge mounting portions 65 to 68 will be described. Hereinafter, the toner cartridge 71 and the cartridge mounting portion 65 will be described as an example. FIG. 8 is a side view showing the toner cartridge 71 shown in FIG. 5 in a simplified manner. 9 is a front view of the toner cartridge 71 shown in FIG. 8, FIG. 10 is a front view schematically showing the cartridge mounting portion 65 shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the toner cartridge 71 is formed in a vertically long shape that is long in the vertical direction, and includes a toner accommodating portion 71 a that accommodates toner therein. A toner supply port 71b is formed at the lower end of the toner storage portion 71a, and a shutter 71c that opens and closes the toner supply port 71b is provided. The lower end surface where the toner supply port 71b is formed is curved in an arc shape, and the shutter 71c is formed in an arc shape correspondingly. The shutter 71c is closed by the action of a spring (not shown) in a normal state where the toner cartridge 71 is not mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 65.

  On both side surfaces of the toner accommodating portion 71a, fitting convex portions (first members) 71d are provided at positions above the toner supply port 71b and below the toner cartridge 71 near the position of the toner supply port 71b. . That is, one fitting convex portion 71 d projects in the front direction of the image forming main body device 2, and the other fitting convex portion 71 d projects in the rear direction of the image forming main body device 2.

  In the fitting convex portion 71d, the upper and lower surfaces are arcuate curved surfaces 71d1, and the space between the upper and lower curved surfaces 71d1 is a straight portion 71d2 having a width narrower than the width between both curved surfaces 71d1.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the cartridge mounting portion 65 has a cartridge facing portion 65 c arranged vertically along the right surface of the image forming main body device 2. In addition, a convex wall portion (second member) 65a is provided at the left and right positions near the lower end portion of the cartridge facing portion 65c (the front direction position and the back direction position with respect to the image forming main body device 2).

  The both convex wall portions 65a are formed with fitting concave portions 65b on the inner surfaces facing each other. The fitting recess 65b has a straight recess 65b2 at the introduction portion and a circular recess 65b1 at the end of the fitting recess 65b. The straight concave portion 65b2 is slightly wider than the straight portion 71d2 in the fitting convex portion 71d of the toner cartridge 71, and the circular concave portion 65b1 is between the curved surfaces 71d1 in the fitting convex portion 71d of the toner cartridge 71. The diameter is slightly wider than the width. The straight recess 65b2 is inclined to the right surface side of the image forming main body device 2 with respect to the vertical vertical direction.

  Therefore, when the toner cartridge 71 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 65, the operator first moves the toner cartridge 71 obliquely downward from above with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 65, and the straight shape of the fitting convex portion 71d. The portion 71d2 is inserted into the straight recess 65b2 of the fitting recess 65b. Further, the toner cartridge 71 is moved obliquely downward until the fitting convex portion 71d reaches the circular concave portion 65b1 of the fitting concave portion 65b. Thereafter, the toner cartridge 71 is rotated until the toner cartridge 71 contacts the cartridge facing portion 65c of the cartridge mounting portion 65. In this case, the rotation of the toner cartridge 71 can be smoothly performed because the fitting convex portion 71d is rotatably held in the circular concave portion 65b1 of the fitting concave portion 65b.

  The toner cartridge 71 includes a storage device 201 as shown in FIG. The storage device 201 is arranged in a state protruding from the surface of the toner cartridge 71 facing the cartridge mounting portion 65, that is, in a state having a convex portion.

  On the other hand, the cartridge mounting unit 65 includes a connector (connection device) 211 corresponding to the storage device 201 as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. The connector 211 is disposed so as to face the storage device 201 in a state where the mounting of the toner cartridge 71 to the cartridge mounting portion 65 is completed. Further, the connector 211 has a fitting recess 211a into which the storage device 201 is fitted, and the storage device 201 is fitted into the fitting recess 211a in a state in which the mounting of the toner cartridge 71 to the cartridge mounting portion 65 is completed. (See FIG. 14).

  In a state where the storage device 201 is fitted in the fitting recess 211a, a connection terminal (not shown) of the storage device 201 and a connection terminal (not shown) of the connector 211 are connected, and the storage device 201 is connected to the connector 211. Is electrically connected. As a result, the image forming main body device 2 can read information in the storage device 201, rewrite information, and write new information.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical connection state between the storage device 201 and the image forming apparatus 1 included in the toner cartridges 71 to 74.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the storage device 201 includes an IC chip 202 having a nonvolatile memory. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control device 221, and a storage device 222 and an operation panel 21 are connected to the control device 221. The operation panel 21 includes a display device 223. The control device 221 reads information from and rewrites information to the storage device 201 and writes new information. Further, the control device 221 causes the display device 223 of the operation panel 21 to appropriately display information read from the storage device 201 and other information. For example, when it is determined from the information read from the storage device 201 that the toner cartridges 71 to 74 are erroneously mounted, the display device 223 displays that fact.

  The information stored in the storage device 201 is other information such as the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridges 71 to 74 and the number of reuses when the toner cartridges 71 to 74 are reused.

(Supplying toner from the toner cartridge to the developing device)
As shown in FIG. 5, toner intermediate receiving members 76 to 79 are respectively disposed under the toner cartridges 71 to 74 mounted on the cartridge mounting portions 65 to 68. Under the toner intermediate receiving members 76 to 79, as shown in FIG. 7, the end portions of the toner take-in portions 43a1 to 43d1 of the developing devices 43a to 43d are arranged, respectively. Accordingly, the toner in the toner cartridges 71 to 74 is supplied to the corresponding developing devices 43a to 43d via the toner intermediate receiving members 76 to 79, respectively.

  Here, the configuration for replenishing toner from the toner cartridge 71 to the developing device 43a will be described taking the case of the toner cartridge 71, the cartridge mounting portion 65, the toner intermediate receiving member 76, and the developing device 43a as an example.

  FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the toner cartridge 71 is moved obliquely downward from above and the fitting convex portion 71 d of the toner cartridge 71 is inserted into the fitting concave portion 65 b of the cartridge mounting portion 65. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a state where the mounting of the toner cartridge 71 to the cartridge mounting portion 65 is completed.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the toner intermediate receiving member 76 is formed with a toner intake port 76a. The position of the toner intake port 76a is a position facing the toner supply port 71b of the toner cartridge 71 in a state where the toner cartridge 71 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 65.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the shutter 71c of the toner cartridge 71 is formed with an engaging convex portion 71e, and the toner intermediate receiving member 76 has an engaging receiving portion 76b that engages with the engaging convex portion 71e. Is formed.

  When the toner cartridge 71 is moved obliquely downward from above and the fitting convex portion 71d of the toner cartridge 71 is inserted into the fitting concave portion 65b of the cartridge mounting portion 65, the engaging convex portion 76b 71e is engaged.

  In this state, as shown in FIG. 14, when the toner cartridge 71 is rotated so as to come into contact with the cartridge facing portion 65c of the cartridge mounting portion 65, the shutter 71c is opened and the toner supply port 71b is opened. As a result, the toner in the toner cartridge 71 is supplied to the toner supply port 71b, the toner intake port 76a of the toner intermediate receiving member 76, the toner intermediate receiving member 76, the toner supply port 76c of the toner intermediate receiving member 76, and the toner intake. The toner is supplied to the developing device 43a through the toner intake 43a2 of the portion 43a1.

  The toner intermediate receiving member 76 has a structure shown in FIG. FIG. 15 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the structure of the toner intermediate receiving member 76. The toner intermediate receiving member 76 is fixed to the image forming main body 2 and includes a toner conveying screw 76d therein as shown in FIG. In the toner intermediate receiving member 76, the toner taken in from the toner take-in port 76a is carried by the toner carrying screw 76d, and replenished from the toner replenishing port 76c to the developing device 43a through the toner take-in port 43a2. The toner conveying screw 76d is rotated by receiving a driving force from the image forming main body device 2.

(Other arrangements of storage device and connector)
FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing another arrangement form of the storage device 201 and the connector 211. As shown in FIG. 16, for example, the toner cartridge 71 includes a container-like toner storage portion 72 that stores toner, and the toner supply port 71 b is formed on the lower surface of the toner storage portion 72. A concave portion 72a is formed in a part of the upper surface of the toner storage portion 72, and the storage device 201 is disposed in the concave portion 72a.

  The storage device 201 is disposed in an inclined state in the recess 72 a so as to be positioned on an arc centered on the center of the fitting protrusion 71 d of the toner cartridge 71. Correspondingly, in the cartridge mounting portion 65, the connector 211 is disposed to be inclined so as to be positioned on the arc. The inclination angle θ of the storage device 201 and the connector 211 with respect to the horizontal direction is preferably 30 ° or less.

  As described above, in the configuration in which the storage device 201 and the connector 211 are arranged to be inclined so as to be positioned on an arc centered on the center of the fitting convex portion 71d of the toner cartridge 71, the toner cartridge 71 is fitted. In the case where the cartridge 71 is mounted around the convex portion 71d, the storage device 201 can be smoothly fitted into the fitting recess 211a of the connector 211.

  In the toner cartridge 71, the storage device 201 is disposed in a recess 72 a formed on the upper surface of the toner storage portion 72, and the connector 211 is disposed at a position corresponding to the storage device 201. Therefore, for example, even when the toner leaked from the toner cartridge 71 is scattered, the toner hardly adheres to the storage device 201 or the connector 211. As a result, poor contact between the storage device 201 and the connector 211 due to scattered toner hardly occurs, and the function of stably communicating the storage device 201 and the image forming apparatus 1 over a long period of time can be further enhanced.

  Further, when the toner cartridge 71 is rotated and disposed at the mounting completion position, the storage device 201 is provided on the toner storage portion 72, so the rotation radius of the storage device 201 is the maximum rotation radius of the toner cartridge 71 or The turning radius is close to that. Thereby, fitting with the memory | storage device 201 and the fitting recessed part 211a of the connector 211 can be performed smoothly.

(Side open / close door)
As shown in FIG. 17, a side opening / closing door 101 is formed on the right surface of the image forming main body device 2 in the casing of the image forming main body device 2. The side opening / closing door 101 covers the arrangement area of the toner cartridges 71 to 74 and the waste toner box 69 so as to be opened and closed. The side opening / closing door 101 has a handle 101a and can be opened and closed in the vertical direction around the rotation fulcrum shaft 102 at the lower end as shown in FIG. FIG. 17 is an explanatory view showing an open / closed state of the side opening / closing door 101.

  In the present embodiment, the side opening / closing door 101 can be opened from the closed position 101a0 to the first open position 101a1 and the second open position 101a2. The toner cartridges 71 to 74 can be replaced at the first open position 101a1, and the waste toner box 69 and the process unit 11 can be replaced at the second open position 101a2. . The opening angle of the first opening position 101a1 with respect to the closing position 101a0 is 30 ° to 45 °, and the opening angle of the second opening position 101a2 is 90 ° to 110 °.

(Opening angle adjustment mechanism)
Next, an opening angle adjusting mechanism for opening the side opening / closing door 101 to the first opening position 101a1 and the second opening position 101a2 will be described. FIG. 18A shows the opening when the side opening / closing door 101 is disposed at the closed position 101a0 and when opened from the first opening position 101a1 when viewed from the front side of the image forming main body device 2. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of the angle adjustment mechanism part. FIG. 18B is a front view showing the connecting member 105 included in the opening angle adjusting mechanism 103. FIG. 18C is an explanatory diagram showing a state of the opening angle adjusting mechanism 103 when the side opening / closing door 101 is opened to the second opening position 101a2 when viewed from the front side of the image forming main body device 2. It is.

  FIG. 19A shows a state of the opening angle adjusting mechanism 103 when the side opening / closing door 101 is opened to the first opening position 101a1 when viewed from the right side of the image forming main body device 2. It is explanatory drawing. FIG. 19B is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state of the opening angle adjusting mechanism 103 when the side opening / closing door 101 is opened to the second opening position 101a2 when viewed from the right side of the image forming main body device 2. It is.

  As shown in FIGS. 18A and 19A, the opening angle adjusting mechanism 103 includes a guide member 104, a connecting member 105, a stopper 106, and a compression spring 107.

  The guide member 104 is a plate-like member having a long hole 104 a and is fixed to the image forming main body device 2 so that the longitudinal direction of the long hole 104 a is the left-right direction of the image forming main body device 2. As shown in FIG. 18B, the connecting member 105 has an elongated plate-like plate-like portion 105a. Further, a first boss 105b that protrudes perpendicularly from the plate-like part 105a at one end of the plate-like part 105a and a first boss 105b that protrudes in the same direction as the first boss 105b from the plate-like part 105a at the other end of the plate-like part 105a. Two bosses 105c are provided.

  Even if the guide member 104 is fixed to the image forming apparatus 1 with screws or the like, it is formed by processing the bottom plate of the image forming apparatus 1 into the shape of the guide member 104. May be.

  The first boss 105 b is inserted into the elongated hole 104 a of the guide member 104 and is guided in the elongated hole 104 a so as to be movable in the left-right direction of the image forming main body device 2. The second boss 105 c is rotatably inserted into the side opening / closing door 101 at a predetermined position above the rotation fulcrum shaft 102.

  The stopper 106 includes an operation unit 106 a that is operated by an operator, and a locking unit 106 b that protrudes upward from the operation unit 106 a, and is movable up and down with respect to the guide member 104. The operation unit 106 a of the stopper 106 is exposed downward from the bottom of the image forming apparatus 1, for example. The stopper 106 is pushed down by a compression spring 107 as shown in FIGS. 18A and 19A when the operator has not performed a push-up operation. In this state, the locking portion 106b is disposed at the position of the elongated hole 104a of the guide member 104, and prevents the first boss 105b of the connecting member 105 from moving in the right direction.

  A recess 106b1 that allows the first boss 105b to move in the right direction is formed in the locking portion 106b of the stopper 106. As shown in FIGS. 18C and 19B, the recess 106b1 is disposed at the position of the elongated hole 104a of the guide member 104 when the stopper 106 is pushed up to the upper position by the operator. Therefore, in this state, the first boss 105b can be moved in the right direction. In this case, the first boss 105b moves to, for example, the right end position of the locking portion 106b.

  In the above configuration, the toner cartridges 71 to 74 are used when the toner stored in the toner cartridge 71 is empty, the waste toner box 69 is used when the collected waste toner is full, and the process unit 11 is When the number of printed sheets reaches a predetermined number, for example, each is replaced with a new one based on the display on the operation panel 21.

Here, the replacement cycle of the toner cartridges 71 to 74, the waste toner box 69, and the process unit 11 is approximately when converted to the number of printed sheets.
Toner cartridges 71 to 74: Every 4,000 sheets Waste toner box 69: Every 10,000 sheets Process unit 11: Every 60,000 sheets
(Toner cartridge replacement work)
When replacing the toner cartridges 71 to 74, the operator reaches for the right side of the image forming apparatus 1 at the position on the front side of the image forming apparatus 1, pulls the handle 101 a of the side opening / closing door 101, and opens the side opening / closing door 101. The first open position 101a1 (FIGS. 17, 18A, 19A) is opened.

  Here, in the opening angle adjusting mechanism 103, when the side opening / closing door 101 is in the closed position 101a0, the first boss 105b of the connecting member 105 is leftward in FIG. 18A of the elongated hole 104a of the guide member 104 (image). It exists in the vicinity of the end of the forming main unit 2 in the left direction).

  When the side opening / closing door 101 is opened from this state, the connecting member 105 is pulled by the side opening / closing door 101 and moved rightward along with the opening operation, and at the same time, the first boss 105b of the connecting member 105 is moved to the guide member. It moves to the right in the elongated hole 104 a of 104, and comes into contact with the locking portion 106 b of the stopper 106. As a result, the side opening / closing door 101 is prevented from being further opened and is disposed at the first opening position 101a1.

  Next, in a state where the side opening / closing door 101 is opened to the first opening position 101a1, the operator replaces the toner cartridges 71 to 74 to be replaced with the right hand.

  For example, when exchanging the toner cartridge 71, as shown in FIG. 14, the operator starts from the position where the toner cartridge 71 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 65 (mounting completed state) as shown in FIG. Then, the toner cartridge 71 is rotated clockwise (clockwise) around the fitting convex portion 71d until the toner supply port 71b of the toner cartridge 71 is closed by the shutter 71c. The rotation angle of the toner cartridge 71 from the position shown in FIG. 14 to the position shown in FIG. 13 is, for example, 30 °.

  In the state shown in FIG. 13, the storage device 201 of the toner cartridge 71 is removed from the fitting recess 211 a in the connector 211 of the cartridge mounting portion 65, and the connection terminal of the storage device 201 and the connection terminal of the connector 211 are connected. Blocked. As a result, communication between the storage device 201 and the connector 211 cannot be performed.

  Further, the straight part 71 d 2 in the fitting convex part 71 d of the toner cartridge 71 is parallel to the straight concave part 65 b 2 in the fitting concave part 65 b of the cartridge mounting part 65. Therefore, the operator moves the toner cartridge 71 obliquely upward in the state shown in FIG. As a result, the fitting convex portion 71 d of the toner cartridge 71 is removed from the fitting concave portion 65 b of the cartridge mounting portion 65. In this case, the engagement between the engagement convex portion 71e in the shutter 71c of the toner cartridge 71 and the engagement receiving portion 76b in the toner intake portion 43a1 of the developing device 43a is released. Accordingly, the toner cartridge 71 can be extracted from the image forming main body device 2 with the shutter 71c closed and the toner supply port 71b closed.

  On the other hand, when a new toner cartridge 71 is mounted, the operator may perform an operation opposite to the above-described operation for removing the toner cartridge 71 to bring the toner cartridge 71 into the mounting completion state shown in FIG.

  In this state, the storage device 201 of the toner cartridge 71 is fitted into the fitting recess 211 a in the connector 211 of the cartridge mounting portion 65, and the connection terminal of the storage device 201 and the connection terminal of the connector 211 are connected. As a result, communication between the storage device 201 and the connector 211 becomes possible.

  Further, the shutter 71c is opened, and the toner in the toner cartridge 71 can be supplied to the developing device 43a through the toner supply port 71b and the toner intake port 43a2 of the toner intake portion 43a1.

(Waste toner box replacement work)
When replacing the waste toner box 69, the operator opens the side opening / closing door 101 to the second opening position 101a2 (FIGS. 17, 18C, and 19B). In this case, the operator pushes up the stopper 106 with the left hand and pulls the handle 101 a of the side opening / closing door 101 with the right hand to open the side opening / closing door 101 at the front side position of the image forming apparatus 1.

  Here, in the opening angle adjusting mechanism 103, when the stopper 106 is pushed up with the side opening / closing door 101 in the closed position 101a0, the recess 106b1 of the stopper 106 moves to the position of the elongated hole 104a of the guide member 104. Thereby, the 1st boss | hub 105b of the connection member 105 can move to the right direction further, without the movement to the right direction being prevented by the latching | locking part 106b of the stopper 106. FIG. Therefore, the side opening / closing door 101 can be opened to the second opening position 101a2.

  Next, in a state where the side opening / closing door 101 is opened to the second open position 101a2, the operator pulls out the waste toner box 69 with the right hand to the right side of the image forming main body apparatus 2 and replaces it with a new one.

(Process unit replacement work)
When replacing the process unit 11, the operator moves the side opening / closing door 101 to the second open position 101 a 2 (FIGS. 17, 18 (c), 19 (b)) in the same manner as the replacement operation of the waste toner box 69. Open up to.

  Next, the operator removes the toner cartridges 71 to 74, the cartridge mounting portions 65 to 68, the waste toner box 69, and the like existing on the right side of the process unit 11 from the image forming main body device 2, and then removes the process unit 11 from the image unit 11. Pull out from the forming body device 2 and replace with a new one.

  In this case, the worker may perform work on the right side when the work space can be secured on the right side of the image forming main body device 2. Alternatively, the image forming main body device 2 may be lifted and rotated horizontally by 90 degrees so that the right side of the image forming main body device 2 comes to the front side.

(Advantages of image forming apparatus)
As described above, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the operator can replace the toner cartridges 71 to 74 and the waste toner box 69 in the state where the replacement work is positioned on the front surface of the image forming apparatus 1. This can be done with the right hand by opening the side opening / closing door 101 formed on the right side of 1.

  As a result, it is difficult for the operator to move in the front-rear direction at the position on the front side of the image forming apparatus 1, and the situation where the replacement work of the toner cartridges 71 to 74 and the waste toner box 69 hinders other people's traffic. It has become difficult. As a result, the toner cartridges 71 to 74 and the waste toner box 69 can be easily replaced in a small office or home office.

  Since the side opening / closing door 101 is formed on the right side of the image forming apparatus 1, a right-handed person who is said to have a population ratio of about 70% has the toner cartridges 71 to 74 and the waste toner box 69. Exchange work can be easily performed by a dominant hand.

  Even if the worker is a disabled person using a wheelchair, the side opening door 101 on the right side of the image forming apparatus 1 is opened to replace the toner cartridges 71 to 74 and replace the waste toner box 69. Can be easily performed.

  FIG. 20A is a plan view showing replacement work of the toner cartridges 71 to 74 of the image forming apparatus 1 by an operator who uses a wheelchair. FIG. 20B is a plan view showing an operation state on the main power source of the image forming apparatus 1 by an operator who uses a wheelchair.

  As shown in FIG. 20A and FIG. 20B, when the worker 112 using the wheelchair 111 performs an operation on the image forming apparatus 1, the wheelchair 111 is placed on the front side of the image forming apparatus 1. Then, the worker 112 faces the front surface of the image forming apparatus 1 from the right side.

  When replacing the toner cartridges 71 to 74, as shown in FIG. 20A, the worker 112 extends the right hand 113 to the right side position of the image forming apparatus 1 in the above state, and operates the handle 101a. Then, the side opening / closing door 101 is opened, and the toner cartridges 71 to 74 are replaced. Similarly, the worker 112 can also replace the waste toner box 69. For example, when the main power switch 22 on the operation panel 21 is operated, as shown in FIG. 20B, the main power switch is operated with the right hand 113 at the same position as when the toner cartridges 71 to 74 are replaced. 22 is operated.

  When performing each of the above operations, the worker 112 does not need to move the wheelchair 111 in the front-rear direction of the image forming apparatus 1 on the front side of the image forming apparatus 1. Accordingly, although a space for the wheelchair 111 is required on the front side of the image forming apparatus 1, no more space is required, and a situation where a person is prevented from passing on the front side of the image forming apparatus 1 can be suppressed.

  In addition, since the toner cartridges 71 to 74, the waste toner box 69, and the process unit 11 can be replaced with the same side opening / closing door 101 open, these operations can be easily performed. In addition, since the number of doors required for the image forming apparatus 1 can be reduced, the structure of the image forming apparatus 1 can be simplified.

  In particular, the replacement operation of the toner cartridges 71 to 74 is performed in a state where the side opening / closing door 101 is opened to the first opening position 101a1, that is, a state where the side opening / closing door 101 is opened at a narrow angle (acute angle) such as 30 ° to 45 °. be able to. Therefore, if a relatively small space can be secured on the side of the image forming apparatus 1 so that the side opening / closing door 101 can be opened, the toner cartridges 71 to 74 can be replaced. This is a great advantage because the replacement frequency of the toner cartridges 71 to 74 is much higher than the replacement frequency of the waste toner box 69 and the process unit 11.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 21, when the document file 121 is placed at the position on the right side having the side opening / closing door 101 of the image forming apparatus 1, or as shown in FIG. Even when the vase 123 is placed at a position on the right side having the side opening / closing door 101 of the image forming apparatus 1, the image forming apparatus 1 is arranged around the image forming apparatus 1 and the image forming apparatus 1. The toner cartridges 71 to 74 can be replaced without moving the existing ones.

  The toner cartridges 71 to 74 are attached to the image forming apparatus 1 in a state where the toner cartridges 71 to 74 are obliquely downward with respect to the image forming apparatus 1 with the side opening / closing door 101 opened to the first opening position 101a1. Then, the toner cartridges 71 to 74 are rotated in the direction of the image forming apparatus 1 (counterclockwise).

  That is, the toner cartridges 71 to 74 are attached to the image forming apparatus 1 by attaching the toner cartridges 71 to 74 to the side opening / closing door 101 and then closing the side opening / closing door 101 to bring the toner cartridges 71 to 74 to a predetermined mounting position. It is not something to wear. Therefore, when the side opening / closing door 101 is deformed with the passage of time and the side opening / closing door 101 is closed, there is no problem that the toner cartridges 71 to 74 are not easily mounted at the predetermined mounting positions.

  Thus, even when the toner cartridges 71 to 74 are frequently replaced in a state where the side opening / closing door 101 is opened to a narrow opening angle position (first opening position 101a1), the cartridge mounting portions 65 to 68, that is, A decrease in mounting accuracy (positioning accuracy) of the toner cartridges 71 to 74 with respect to the image forming main body device 2 can be prevented over a long period of time. As a result, a stable communication state between the storage device 201 included in the toner cartridges 71 to 74 and the image forming apparatus 1 can be maintained for a long period of time. Further, a special or dedicated positioning mechanism such as a positioning pin and a positioning recess into which the positioning pin is inserted is not necessary.

  Further, when the toner cartridges 71 to 74 are mounted on the image forming apparatus 1, the side opening / closing door 101 is opened and the cartridge mounting portions 65 to 68 are not rotated to the position where the insertion of the toner cartridges 71 to 74 is received. The opening angle of the door 101 can be reduced, and this also enables work in a narrow work area.

  Therefore, the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment can easily replace the toner cartridges 71 to 74, the waste toner box 69, and the process unit 11, and has a structure in which the number of necessary opening / closing doors is suppressed. Can be simplified.

(Other examples of side doors)
The image forming apparatus 1 may include a side door 131 shown in FIGS. 23A to 23C instead of the side door 101 shown in FIG. FIG. 23 (a) is an explanatory view showing another example of the side opening / closing door 101 shown in FIG. 17, and FIG. 23 (b) shows the door upper part 132 of the side opening / closing door 131 shown in FIG. 23 (a) being opened. FIG. 23 (c) is an explanatory view showing a structure for holding the door upper portion 132 shown in FIG. 23 (a) in a closed state.

  As shown in FIG. 23A, the side opening / closing door 131 includes a door upper part 132 and a door lower part 133, and the door upper part 132 and the door lower part 133 are connected by an opening / closing auxiliary member 134 and a hinge 135. . A handle 131a is formed on the door upper portion 132. The material of the opening / closing auxiliary member 134 may be, for example, an elastic rubber such as NBR (Nitrile butadiene rubber) or a PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) film having a thickness of about 0.3 mm.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 23B, the door upper part 132 and the door lower part 133 are connected by an opening / closing auxiliary member 134 on the inner surface side and are connected by a hinge 135 on the outer surface side. The opening / closing auxiliary member 134 is attached to the door upper part 132 and the door lower part 133 by screws 135. When the opening / closing auxiliary member 134 is formed of a PET film, a long hole 134 a may be formed in a portion of the opening / closing auxiliary member 134 attached to the door upper part 132 or the door lower part 133. This is because when the door upper part 132 is opened, the opening / closing auxiliary member 134 can be moved relative to the screw 135 so that the door upper part 132 can be opened smoothly.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG.23 (c), the fitting convex part 136 which consists of elastic bodies is formed in the side surface of the both sides of the door upper part 132, for example. On the other hand, a fitting concave portion 24 is formed at a position facing the fitting convex portion 136 in the housing 23 of the image forming main body device 2. Therefore, when the door upper part 132 is closed, the fitting convex part 136 fits into the fitting concave part 24, and the door upper part 132 is hold | maintained in a closed state.

  In the configuration including the side opening / closing door 131, when the toner cartridges 71 to 74 are replaced, only the upper door 132 is opened, and when the waste toner box 69 and the process unit 11 are replaced, the upper door 132 and the door are opened. The lower part 133 is opened.

  The opening angle of the door upper portion 132 when the toner cartridges 71 to 74 are replaced may be, for example, 60 ° to 70 °. In this case, the opening angle of the door upper portion 132 can be adjusted by adjusting the length of the elongated hole 134a of the opening / closing auxiliary member 134.

  Moreover, what is necessary is just to make it perform the opening / closing of the door lower part 133 by the opening angle adjustment mechanism part 103 mentioned above. That is, the lower door 133 is held closed when the stopper 106 is pushed by the compression spring 107 and moved to the lower position, and can be opened when the stopper 106 is pushed upward. The opening angle of the door upper part 132 and the door lower part 133 in this case is 90 ° to 110 °, as in the case where the side opening / closing door 101 is opened to the second opening position 101a2.

  In the configuration including the side opening / closing door 131 as described above, the side opening / closing door 131 is opened when the side opening / closing door 131 (door upper portion 132) is opened in order to attach / detach the toner cartridges 71 to 74 to / from the image forming apparatus 1. The rotation area can be reduced. As a result, the working space on the side of the image forming apparatus 1 required when the toner cartridges 71 to 74 are attached and detached can be further reduced.

[Embodiment 2]
Another embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 24 to 27, the image forming apparatus 1 (image forming main body apparatus 2) according to the present embodiment opens and closes a side surface provided on the right side of the casing of the image forming apparatus 1 (image forming main body apparatus 2). The door 101 is opened at three stages of first to third opening angles. For this purpose, the image forming main body device 2 opens the side opening / closing door 101 in three stages, that is, an opening angle adjusting mechanism that opens the closing position 101b0 to the first opening position 101b1, the second opening position 101b2, and the third opening position 101b3. Part 151.

(Opening angle adjustment mechanism)
FIG. 24A is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state of the opening angle adjustment mechanism 151 when the side opening / closing door 101 is in the closed position 101b0. FIG. 24B is an explanatory diagram when the opening angle adjusting mechanism 151 shown in FIG. 24A is viewed from the right side of the image forming main body device 2. FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of the opening angle adjustment mechanism 151 when the side opening / closing door 101 is opened to the first opening position 101b1. FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of the opening angle adjusting mechanism 151 when the side opening / closing door 101 is opened to the second opening position 101b2. FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of the opening angle adjusting mechanism 151 when the side opening / closing door 101 is opened to the third opening position 101b3.

  As shown in FIGS. 24A and 24B, the opening angle adjusting mechanism 151 includes an opening angle adjusting member 152 having an elongated plate shape. The material of the opening angle adjusting member 152 is, for example, a metal such as PET (Polyethylene terephthalate), ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), iron, or SUS. The opening angle adjusting mechanism 151 is disposed in the front-rear direction of the image forming main body 2 inside the image forming main body 2, and the rear end is rotatably connected to the side surface of the side opening / closing door 101 by the shaft member 153. Has been.

  A guide hole 152a extending in the left-right direction of the image forming main body device 2 is formed in the opening angle adjusting member 152, and a guide pin 154 fixed to the image forming main body device 2 is inserted into the guide hole 152a. The lower side of the opening angle adjusting member 152 around the guide hole 152a has a linear shape. On the other hand, the upper side of the guide hole 152a is directed from the right end portion (end portion on the side surface opening / closing door 101 side) of the guide hole 152a toward the left end portion, the first guide portion 152a1, the first locking portion 152a2, and the second guide portion 152a3. And the 2nd latching | locking part 152a4 is formed. Further, the left end portion (terminal portion) of the guide hole 152a that is further leftward than the second locking portion 152a4 is a third locking portion 152a5.

  The first guide part 152a1 and the second guide part 152a3 are horizontal after being inclined obliquely upward. The first locking portion 152a2 and the second locking portion 152a4 extend downward from the terminal ends of the first guide portion 152a1 and the second guide portion 152a3. A guide pin 154 is engaged with the first locking portion 152a2, the second locking portion 152a4, and the second guiding portion 152a3, and the opening angle adjustment to the right side of the image forming main body device 2 with the opening of the side opening / closing door 101 is adjusted. The movement of the member 152 is prevented.

  Further, communication between the toner cartridges 71 to 74 and the image forming apparatus 1 may be performed wirelessly regardless of the connection of the connection terminals. FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration when the storage device 231 disposed in the toner cartridge 71 communicates with the image forming apparatus 1 wirelessly.

  In the example shown in FIG. 28, the storage device 231 is disposed on the surface of the toner cartridge 71 that faces the cartridge mounting portion 65. On the other hand, the reading / writing device (connection device) 241 is disposed at a position facing the storage device 231 in the cartridge mounting unit 65 in a state where the toner cartridge 71 is completely mounted in the cartridge mounting unit 65. The reading / writing device 241 replaces the connector 211 and communicates with the storage device 231 in a non-contact state with the storage device 231.

  That is, the storage device 231 and the reading / writing device 241 communicate with each other by radio waves, for example, and the reading / writing device 241 reads, rewrites, and writes information in the storage device 231. The storage device 231 is, for example, a non-contact IC tag having a nonvolatile memory, and Tag-it (manufactured by Texas Instruments) or μ-Cip (manufactured by Hitachi) can be used.

  As a result, the toner cartridge 71 (toner cartridges 71 to 74) and the image forming apparatus 1 communicate with each other in the same manner as the configuration shown in FIGS. can do.

  FIG. 28 shows a case where the storage device 231 and the reading / writing device 241 are arranged at positions corresponding to the arrangement positions of the storage device 201 and the connector 211 shown in FIG. However, the storage device 231 and the reading / writing device 241 may be arranged at an arrangement position corresponding to the arrangement position of the storage device 201 and the connector 211 shown in FIG.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 16, the configuration in which the storage device 231 is disposed on the toner accommodating portion 71 a of the toner cartridge 71 makes it difficult for scattered toner to adhere particularly. Therefore, in such a configuration, when the storage device 231 and the reading / writing device 241 communicate using the UHF band of wireless radio waves and the toner is magnetic toner, communication interference due to magnetic toner hardly occurs. It is particularly effective.

  In the above configuration, when the operator pulls the handle 101a of the side opening / closing door 101 and opens the side opening / closing door 101 from the closed position 101a0 shown in FIG. 24 (a), the opening angle adjusting mechanism 151 has the side opening / closing door. With the opening of 101, the opening angle adjusting member 152 moves to the right side of the image forming main body device 2. In this case, due to the weight of the opening angle adjusting member 152, the opening angle adjusting member 152 moves while the first guide portion 152 a 1 is on the guide pin 154, and the first locking portion 152 a 2 is engaged with the guide pin 154. Then, further movement of the opening angle adjusting member 152 is prevented. In this state, as shown in FIG. 25, the side opening / closing door 101 is in a state of being opened to the first opening position 101b1.

  When the left end of the opening angle adjusting member 152 (the end in the left surface direction of the image forming main body device 2) is pushed up from the above state, the engagement between the guide pin 154 and the first locking portion 152a2 is released, and the side surface The open / close door 101 can be opened.

  Next, after the engagement between the guide pin 154 and the first locking portion 152a2 is released, when the side opening / closing door 101 is further opened from the first opening position 101b1, the second guide portion 152a3 gets on the guide pin 154. In this state, the opening angle adjusting member 152 moves. Thereafter, when the second locking portion 152a4 is engaged with the guide pin 154, further movement of the opening angle adjusting member 152 is prevented, and the side opening / closing door 101 is moved to the second opening position 101b2 as shown in FIG. It will be in an open state.

  Next, after releasing the engagement between the guide pin 154 and the second locking portion 152a4, when the side opening / closing door 101 is further opened from the second opening position 101b2, the third locking portion 152a5 is engaged with the guide pin 154. Then, further movement of the opening angle adjusting member 152 is prevented. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 27, the side surface opening / closing door 101 is in a state opened to the third opening position 101b3.

  Note that when the side opening / closing door 101 is closed from the first opening position 101b1, the second opening position 101b2, and the third opening position 101b3, the side opening / closing door 101 may be simply closed from each position.

  In the present embodiment, the opening angle (first opening angle) of the first opening position 101b1 with respect to the closing position 101a0 is 30 ° to 45 °, and the opening angle (second opening angle) of the second opening position 101b2 is 45. The opening angle (third opening angle) of the third opening position 101b3 is 90 ° to 110 °.

  At the first opening position 101b1, the toner cartridges 71 to 74 can be replaced. At the second opening position 101b2, the toner cartridges 71 to 74 and the waste toner box 69 can be replaced. In the third open position 101b3, the toner cartridges 71 to 74, the waste toner box 69, and the process unit 11 can be replaced. The procedures for exchanging the toner cartridges 71 to 74, the waste toner box 69, and the process unit 11 are as described above.

  In the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the toner cartridges 71 to 74 are replaced while the side opening / closing door 101 is opened to the first opening position 101b1 having the first opening angle (30 ° to 45 °). Can do. Further, the waste toner box 69 can be replaced while the side opening / closing door 101 is opened to the second opening position 101b2 at the second opening angle (45 ° to 75 °). That is, in addition to the replacement operation of the toner cartridges 71 to 74, the replacement operation of the waste toner box 69 can be performed with the right hand with the same side opening / closing door 101 opened at a small angle. Accordingly, if a relatively small space can be secured on the side of the image forming apparatus 1 so that the side opening / closing door 101 can be opened, the toner cartridges 71 to 74 and the waste toner box 69 can be replaced. The other advantages of the image forming apparatus 1 are the same as those of the above-described configuration in which the side opening / closing door 101 is opened by the opening angle adjusting mechanism unit 103.

  Therefore, also in the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the toner cartridges 71 to 74, the waste toner box 69 and the process unit 11 can be easily replaced, and the number of necessary opening / closing doors is suppressed. Can be simplified.

  Also in the present embodiment, even when the toner cartridges 71 to 74 are frequently replaced while the side opening / closing door 101 is opened to a narrow opening angle position (first opening position 101a1), the cartridge A decrease in mounting accuracy (positioning accuracy) of the toner cartridges 71 to 74 with respect to the mounting portions 65 to 68, that is, the image forming main body device 2 can be prevented over a long period of time. As a result, a stable communication state between the storage device 201 included in the toner cartridges 71 to 74 and the image forming apparatus 1 can be maintained for a long period of time.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Image forming main body apparatus 3 Automatic document feeder 11 Process unit 13 Paper feed cassette 14 Transfer part 15 Fixing part 16 Paper discharge tray 21 Operation panel 22 Main power switch 23 Case 24 Fitting recess
31 to 34 First to fourth image forming portions 35 Intermediate transfer belt unit 36 Transfer belt cleaning device 36a Waste toner transport pipe
41a to 41d photoconductor drum
43a-43d Development device
43a1 to 43d1 Toner take-in part
43a2 to 43d2 Toner intake port
45a-45d photoconductor cleaning device
45a1 to 45d1 Waste toner transport pipe 51 Intermediate transfer belt 61 Document set tray 62 Output tray
65 to 68 Cartridge mounting part (consumable container mounting part)
65 Convex wall (second member)
65b Fitting recess 65b1 Circular recess 65b2 Straight recess 65c Cartridge facing portion 69 Waste toner box
71-74 Toner cartridge (consumable container)
71a Toner accommodating portion 71b Toner replenishing port 71c Shutter 71d Fitting convex portion (first member)
71d1 curved surface 71d2 straight part
76 to 79 Toner intermediate receiving member 76a Toner intake port 76b Engagement receiving portion
81,82 vertical wall
91-95 1st to 5th extension
91a to 95a Waste toner intake port 101 Side opening / closing door 101a Handle 101a0 Closed position 101a1 First open position 101a2 Second open position 101b0 Closed position 101b1 First open position 101b2 Second open position 101b3 Third open position 102 Rotation fulcrum shaft 103 Opening angle adjusting mechanism 104 Guide member 104a Slot 105 Connecting member 106 Stopper 106a Operation part 106b Locking part 106b1 Recess 111 Wheelchair 112 Worker 121 Document file 122 Cabinet 123 Vase 131 Side opening / closing door 132 Door upper part 133 Door lower part 134 Member 134a Long hole 135 Hinge 136 Fitting convex part 151 Opening angle adjusting mechanism 152 Opening angle adjusting member 152a Guide hole 152a2 First locking part 152a4 Second locking part 152a5 Third locking part 153 Shaft member 154 Guide pin 2 1 storage device 211 connector (connecting device)
211a Fitting recess 231 Storage device 241 Reading / writing device (connection device)

Claims (6)

A consumable container;
A storage device provided in the consumable container;
A consumable container mounting portion to which the consumable container is mounted;
A connection device in which an electrical connection state to the storage device occurs in a state where the consumable container is disposed at a mounting completion position with respect to the consumable container mounting unit;
A first member provided in a lower portion of the consumable container;
Provided at a position corresponding to the lower portion of the consumable container mounting portion, fits with the first member, and allows the consumable container to rotate in the mounting completion position and in the opposite direction around the lower portion. An image forming apparatus comprising: a second member to be held. The consumable container is a toner cartridge;
The toner cartridge includes a toner supply port at a lower end portion and a shutter that opens and closes the toner supply port.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shutter is opened in accordance with the rotation of the toner cartridge toward the mounting completion position. The consumable container is a toner cartridge;
The toner cartridge includes a toner storage unit that stores toner;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage device is provided on the toner container. The storage device has a convex portion that is a portion at least partially protruding from a surface of the toner cartridge that faces the consumable container mounting portion.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the connection device includes a fitting concave portion into which the convex portion is fitted. The consumable container is detachably mounted on either the left or right side of the image forming apparatus,
The one side surface of the housing of the image forming apparatus is provided with a side opening / closing door that can be opened / closed by rotating in the vertical direction around the lower portion and that can open the consumable container to a removable open position. And
The first member and the second member are fitted to each other by moving the consumable container obliquely downward from above with respect to the one side surface in a state where the side opening / closing door is opened, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fitting is released by moving the consumable container in a direction opposite to the consumable container. The consumable container is a toner cartridge;
A waste toner box that is detachably attached to a lower position of the toner cartridge and stores the collected waste toner;
The side opening / closing door can be opened to a first opening position having an acute opening angle and a second opening position having an opening angle larger than the first opening position, and the toner cartridge can be attached to and detached from the first opening position. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the waste toner box is detachable at the second open position.