JP6021611B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium.

Here, the image forming apparatus is an apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium by using various known image forming principles / methods such as an electrophotographic process, an electrostatic recording process, and a magnetic recording process. For example, copiers, printers (for example, laser printers, LED printers, etc.), facsimile machines, word processors, image display devices (electronic blackboards, electronic whiteboards, etc.) and the like are included. The recording medium is one in which an image is formed by an image forming apparatus, and includes, for example, paper, an OHT sheet, an image display body, and the like.

The cartridge is an image carrier on which an image is formed and a part or all of an image forming portion having an image forming process means acting on the image carrier are integrally formed into a cartridge. Then, it is detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus and contributes to an image forming process of forming an image on a recording medium. The main body of the device is an image forming device component excluding the cartridge in the cartridge type image forming device.

As the image carrier, an electrophotographic photosensitive member in an electrophotographic process, an electrostatic recording dielectric in an electrostatic recording process, a magnetic recording magnetic material in a magnetic recording process, and various other image forming principles / methods can be used to form an image. Members can be mentioned. The image forming process means is an apparatus that acts on an image carrier to form an image.

Hereinafter, for convenience, a cartridge type electrophotographic image forming apparatus will be described as an example. Examples of the cartridge include a process cartridge and a developing cartridge.

The process cartridge integrates at least one of a charging means, a developing means, and a cleaning means as an electrophotographic process means and an electrophotographic photosensitive member into a cartridge, and is detachably attached to the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. It is a thing.

Therefore, the process cartridge includes a developing means as a process means and an electrophotographic photosensitive member integrally made into a cartridge and detachably attached to the main body of the apparatus. Further, the process cartridge includes a process cartridge in which a charging means, a developing means or a cleaning means and an electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge and detachably attached to the main body of the apparatus.

A process cartridge having an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a developing means integrally is called an integrated type. Further, a process cartridge having an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a process means other than the developing means integrally is referred to as a so-called separation type. That is, a process cartridge in which a developing means is provided in a developing unit separate from the process cartridge and paired with the developing unit to form an image is called a so-called separation type.

The process cartridge can be attached to and detached from the device body by the user himself / herself. Therefore, maintenance of the apparatus main body can be easily performed.

Further, the developing cartridge has a developing agent carrier (hereinafter, referred to as a developing roller) that applies a developing agent to an electrophotographic photosensitive member. Further, it contains a powder developer (toner) used for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member by a developing roller, and is detachably attached to the main body of the apparatus.

In the case of a developing cartridge, the electrophotographic photosensitive member is attached to the apparatus main body or the cartridge support member. Alternatively, the electrophotographic photosensitive member is provided in the so-called separable process cartridge described above (in this case, the process cartridge does not have a developing means). The developing cartridge can also be attached to and detached from the device body by the user himself / herself. Therefore, maintenance of the apparatus main body can be easily performed.

Therefore, the cartridge includes the so-called integrated type or so-called separate type process cartridge described above. Further, the cartridge includes a case where a so-called separable process cartridge and a developing cartridge are used as a pair. Further, the cartridge includes a case where the electrophotographic photosensitive member is fixedly attached to the apparatus main body or the cartridge support member, and the developing cartridge is detachably used so as to act on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. The cartridge includes a unit that is detachably attached to the main body of the apparatus and contributes to the image forming process of forming an image on a recording medium.

In a conventional image forming apparatus, a plurality of process cartridges are arranged horizontally side by side on a movable tray (moving member: cartridge support member), and when the tray is pulled out to the outside of the apparatus main body, the process cartridge is said. Some are removable.

Such an image forming apparatus has an openable / closable cover that covers an opening for pulling out a tray from the apparatus main body, and an interface member of the cartridge is applied to each cartridge in conjunction with opening / closing of the cover. Some are brought into contact with each other and separated from each other (Patent Document 1). The interface member is, for example, a cartridge pressing member, a drive connecting member, a power feeding member, or the like.

In the conventional example shown in Patent Document 1, the tray holding member moves in the front-rear direction and the up-down direction of the apparatus main body in conjunction with the rotation of the door. According to the embodiment, the tray holding member first moves rearward and downward of the apparatus main body, and then further rearwardly along the door closing operation.

When the tray and the cartridge are lowered with the downward movement of the holding member, the power feeding member on the device main body side comes into contact with the intermediate contact member provided on the tray from below. After that, as the holding member moves backward, the pressing member that presses the cartridge from above comes into contact with the holding member, and in parallel with this, the drive coupling member (drive connecting member) is connected to the drive input portion of the cartridge.

When opening the door, each interface member separates from the cartridge in reverse order. This makes it possible to easily replace the cartridge with front access.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-128506

The present invention is a further development of the above-mentioned prior art. That is, an object of the present invention is to present a configuration of this type of image forming apparatus that reduces the user's operating force when opening and closing the door and guarantees the positioning of the cartridge with respect to the mounting position inside the apparatus main body.

Typical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object, there is provided an image forming apparatus capable of attaching and detaching the cartridge for forming an image on a recording medium, the apparatus body of the image forming apparatus A main body door capable of taking an opening provided in the above, a closed position for closing the opening, and an open position for opening the opening, and a tray for mounting the cartridge, and the main body door is placed in the closed position. when was positioned, the inside of the apparatus main body and the image forming position to position the cartridge in the image forming operable position, when the main body door was located at the open position, the outside of the device body and wearing-off position for the cartridge detachably located from the detachable position in the middle of the movement path to the image forming position, the said body door you move to the closed position from the open position a support member and a movable position which can be moved to the image forming position in cooperation, the tray can take, that movably supports the tray, in conjunction with the movement of the front Stories body door, said body when the door is positioned in said closed position, and a coupling position capable of transmitting a driving force to said cartridge, when said body door is positioned at the open position, a first spaced position away from the cartridge, the When the drive transmission member that can be taken, the contact position where the main body door is pressed against the cartridge and positioned at the device main body when the main body door is located at the closed position, and the main body door is located at the open position. A pressing member that can take a second separation position away from the cartridge, a power supply position that can supply power to the power supply contact portion of the cartridge when the main body door is located at the closed position, and the main body. When the door is located in the open position, it has a third separation position that separates it from the power supply contact portion of the cartridge, and a power supply member that can take the door, and the main body door moves from the open position to the closed position. In conjunction with the movement, the tray moves from the movable position to the image forming position, the drive transmission member moves from the first separation position to the connection position, and the pressing member moves. operation of moving from the second spaced position to the contact position, the feed member is characterized by being performed in the order of the operation to move to the feed position from said third separated position.

According to the present invention, it is possible to present a configuration that reduces the user's operating force when opening and closing the door and guarantees the positioning of the cartridge with respect to the mounting position inside the device main body.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Longitudinal right side view of the image forming apparatus. External perspective view of the image forming apparatus with the door open. The vertical sectional right side view of the image forming apparatus of FIG. External perspective view of the image forming apparatus with the tray pulled out. The vertical sectional right side view of the image forming apparatus of FIG. A perspective view of the cartridge as viewed from the non-driving side. A perspective view of the cartridge as viewed from the drive side. A perspective view of the tray. The perspective view of the interlocking mechanism part of a door and a tray holding member. The figure explaining the movement of the tray holding member interlocking with the opening rotation of a door. Enlarged view of the guide hole portion of the tray holding member. The perspective view (the 1) explaining the tray position regulation means. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a tray position regulating means. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the tray position regulating means. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a tray position regulating means. The figure explaining the means for supplying power to a cartridge (the 1). FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a means for supplying power to the cartridge (No. 2). The perspective view (the 1) explaining the means for pressing a cartridge. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a means for pressing the cartridge. Enlarged view of the guide hole portion of the means for pressing the cartridge. The figure explaining the means for pressing a cartridge (the 1). The figure explaining the means for pressing a cartridge (the 2). The figure explaining the means of transmitting a driving force to a cartridge (the 1). The figure explaining the means of transmitting a driving force to a cartridge (the 2). The figure which shows the form of the pop-out prevention claw and the body side engaging means.

[Example 1]
<< Overall schematic configuration of an example of an image forming apparatus >>
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus 100 which is an example of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a vertical right side view. The image forming apparatus 100 is a four-color full-color laser printer (electrophotographic image forming) using an electrophotographic process, which has four first to fourth cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, PK) as a plurality of cartridges. Device).

That is, the image forming apparatus 100 is a four-color full-color image or a monocolor image on a sheet-shaped recording medium S based on an electrical image signal output from the external host apparatus 400 and input to the control unit 200 via the interface unit 300. Images can be formed. The external host device 400 is a personal computer, an image reader, a remote fax machine, or the like.

The control unit 200 is a control means for controlling the electrophotographic image forming process of the image forming apparatus 100, and exchanges various kinds of electrical information with the external host apparatus 400. It also processes electrical information input from various process devices and sensors, processes command signals to various process devices, controls a predetermined initial sequence, controls a sequence of a predetermined electrophotographic image forming process, and the like.

In the following description, with respect to the image forming apparatus 100, the front side (front side) is the side on which the apparatus opening / closing door (main body door) 31 is arranged. The rear side (back side) is the opposite side. The front-rear direction is a direction from the rear side to the front side of the image forming apparatus 100 (front direction) and the opposite direction (rear direction). Left and right are left or right when the image forming apparatus 100 is viewed from the front side. The left-right direction is a direction from right to left (left direction) and vice versa (right direction). Top and bottom are top and bottom in the direction of gravity. The upward direction is the direction from the bottom to the top, and the downward direction is the direction from the top to the bottom.

The longitudinal direction is a direction parallel to the rotation axis direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, which is an image carrier on which a latent image is formed. The lateral direction is a direction (orthogonal direction) orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. Further, one end side in the longitudinal direction is the driving side, and the other end side is the non-driving side. In this embodiment, the right end side in the longitudinal direction is the driving side, and the left end side is the non-driving side.

A cartridge accommodating portion 100B is provided inside the apparatus main body (main body frame) 100A of the image forming apparatus 100. From the rear side to the front side of the apparatus main body 100A, four cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK of the first to fourth cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK are arranged horizontally in the cartridge accommodating portion 100B and are predeterminedly mounted at a predetermined mounting position. (In-line configuration, tandem type). The mounting position of the cartridge P is a position where the cartridge P can perform an image forming operation in the cartridge accommodating portion 100B.

The cartridge P contributes to the image forming process of forming an image on the recording material S, and is detachably attached to the apparatus main body 100A of the image forming apparatus 100 and used. Each cartridge P in this embodiment has a drum-type electrophotographic photosensitive member (hereinafter referred to as a drum) 1 as an image carrier on which a latent image is formed. Then, it is a so-called integrated process cartridge having a charging means 2, a developing means 3, and a cleaning means 4 as electrophotographic image forming process means acting on the drum 1.

In this embodiment, the charging means 2 is a contact charging roller. The developing means 3 is a contact having a developing roller 3a as a developing agent carrier for supplying a developing agent to the drum 1 and developing a latent image as a developing agent image, a developing agent accommodating portion 3b for accommodating the developing agent, and the like. A mold or non-contact type developer. The cleaning means 4 is a blade cleaner having a cleaning blade 4a as a cleaning member, a waste toner storage portion 4b, and the like. Each cartridge P has a similar electrophotographic process mechanism equipped with the above-mentioned image forming process equipment, and the colors of the stored developer (hereinafter referred to as toner) are different.

That is, in the first cartridge PY, the developer 3 contains the yellow (Y) color toner, and the Y color toner image is formed on one surface of the drum. In the second cartridge PM, magenta (M) color toner is stored in the developing device 3, and an M color toner image is formed on one surface of the drum. In the third cartridge PC, the developer 3 contains a cyan (C) color toner, and a C color toner image is formed on one surface of the drum. In the fourth cartridge PK, a black (K) color toner is stored in the developing device 3, and a K color toner image is formed on one surface of the drum.

A laser scanner unit 11 as an exposure device unit (exposure means) for exposing the drum 1 of each cartridge P to form a latent image is arranged above the cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK. .. The scanner unit 11 outputs the laser beam L modulated according to the image information of each color input from the external host device 400 to the control unit 200, and passes through the exposure window 6 provided on the upper surface of the cartridge frame 5. One surface of the drum of each cartridge P is scanned and exposed.

A toner image is primarily transferred to the lower portion of the cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK facing the drum 1 of each cartridge P, and the toner image is secondarily transferred to the recording medium S as a transfer unit (transfer member). The intermediate transfer unit 12 of the above is arranged.

The unit 12 is made of a dielectric and has a flexible endless belt 13 as an intermediate transfer body (second image carrier: an intermediate recording medium), and the belt 13 is stretched and circulated. It has a drive roller 14, a turn roller 15, and a tension roller 16 to be moved. The drive roller 14 and the turn roller 15 are arranged on the rear side in the apparatus main body 100A. The tension roller 16 is arranged on the front side in the apparatus main body 100A.

The lower surface of each drum 1 is in contact with the upper surface of the upper belt portion of the belt 13 in a state where each cartridge P is mounted in a predetermined mounting position. Inside the belt 13, four primary transfer rollers 17 are arranged so as to face the drum 1 of each cartridge P via the upper belt portion.

In each cartridge P, the nip portion between the drum 1 and the belt 13 is the primary transfer nip portion T1. The secondary transfer roller 22 is in contact with the drive roller 14 via the belt 13. The nip portion between the secondary transfer roller 22 and the belt 13 is the secondary transfer nip portion T2.

A sheet-shaped recording medium (sheet material: hereinafter referred to as recording material) S on which the toner image is transferred is stocked in the lower portion of the intermediate transfer unit 12, and one recording material S is used for each intermediate transfer unit 12. A paper feed unit 18 for transporting the above is arranged.

The paper feed unit 18 includes a paper feed tray 19, a paper feed roller 20, a separation pad 21, a resist roller pair 20a, and the like on which a sheet-shaped recording medium (hereinafter referred to as a recording material) S is loaded and stored. The paper feed tray 19 can be freely taken in and out (inserted / removed) from the front side of the apparatus main body 100A (front loading). Reference numeral 19a is a handle portion provided on the front plate of the paper feed tray 19.

A fixing device 23 and a paper ejection roller pair 24, which are fixing units (fixing means) for fixing and ejecting paper by applying heat and pressure to the recording material S on which the toner image is transferred, are located on the upper rear side of the apparatus main body 100A. Are arranged. The upper surface of the apparatus main body 100A is formed as a paper output tray 25. The fixing device 23 uses a fixing film assembly 23a and a pressure roller 23b. The paper ejection roller pair 24 is a paper ejection roller 24a and a paper ejection roller 24b.

In the cartridge accommodating portion 100B, each cartridge P is located at a mounting position capable of performing an image forming operation, and is pressed by a pressing member 42 (FIG. 22) to a predetermined positioning portion 41 on the device main body 100A side as described later. It is held in a fixed state. Further, as will be described later, the drive output units (drive transmission members) 39, 40 (FIGS. 24 and 25) on the device main body 100A side with respect to the drive input units (drive connection units) 53 and 54 (FIG. 8) of the cartridge P. ) Combine. Further, as will be described later, the power feeding system (feeding member) 75 (FIG. 18) on the device main body 100A side is made conductive with respect to the electrical contact (feeding contact portion) 55 (FIG. 7) of the cartridge P.

<< Image formation operation >>
The operation for forming a full-color image is as follows. The drums 1 of the first to fourth cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK are rotationally driven at a predetermined control speed in the counterclockwise direction of the arrow in FIG. The belt 13 is also rotationally driven in the clockwise direction of the arrow (forward to the rotation of the drum 1) at a speed corresponding to the speed of the drum 1. The scanner unit 11 is also driven.

In synchronization with this drive, the charging roller 2 uniformly charges the surface of the drum 1 to a predetermined polarity and potential at a predetermined control timing in each cartridge P. The scanner unit 11 scans and exposes the surface of each drum 1 with a laser beam L modulated according to an image signal of each color. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image signal of the corresponding color is formed on the surface of each drum 1. The formed latent image is developed by the developer 3 as a toner image (developer image).

By the electrophotographic image forming process operation as described above, a Y color toner image corresponding to the Y color component of the full color image is formed on the drum 1 of the first cartridge PY. The toner image is first transferred onto the belt 13 at the primary transfer nip portion T1 of the cartridge PY.

An M-color toner image corresponding to the M-color component of the full-color image is formed on the drum 1 of the second cartridge PM. The toner image is superimposed on the Y-color toner image that has already been transferred on the belt 13 at the primary transfer nip portion T1 of the cartridge PM and is primarily transferred.

A C-color toner image corresponding to the C-color component of the full-color image is formed on the drum 1 of the third cartridge PC. The toner image is superimposed on the Y color + M color toner image already transferred on the belt 13 at the primary transfer nip portion T1 of the cartridge PM and is primary transferred.

A K-color toner image corresponding to the K-color component of the full-color image is formed on the drum 1 of the fourth cartridge PK. The toner image is superimposed on the Y color + M color + C color toner image already transferred on the belt 13 at the primary transfer nip portion T1 of the cartridge PM and is primary transferred.

Thus, an unfixed toner image in which four colors of Y color + M color + C color + K color are superimposed is synthesized and formed on the belt 13. In each cartridge P, the transfer residual toner remaining on the drum 1 surface after the primary transfer of the toner image to the belt 13 is removed by the cleaner 4.

On the other hand, the paper feed roller 20 is driven at a predetermined control timing. As a result, one recording material S loaded on the paper feed tray 19 is separately fed in cooperation with the paper feed roller 20 and the separation pad 21, and the secondary transfer nip is supplied by the resist roller 20b at a predetermined control timing. Introduced in part T2. As a result, in the process in which the recording material S sandwiches and conveys the secondary transfer nip portion T2, the four-color superimposed toner images on the belt 13 are sequentially and collectively transferred to the surface of the recording material S.

The recording material S is separated from the surface of the belt 13 and introduced into the fixing device 23 through the transport path 20b, and is heated and pressurized by the fixing nip portion N. As a result, the toner images of each color are mixed and fixed to the recording material S. Then, the recording material S leaves the fixing device 23 and is discharged onto the paper ejection tray 25 by the paper ejection rollers 24 as a full-color image forming product. The secondary transfer residual toner remaining on the surface of the belt 13 after the recording material is separated is removed by the cleaning means 26.

<< Cartridge replacement method >>
As each of the first to fourth cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK is used for image formation, the developer contained in the developer 3 is consumed. Then, when the developer is consumed to the extent that an image of satisfactory quality cannot be formed for the user who purchased the cartridge, the commercial value of the cartridge is lost.

Therefore, for example, by providing a means (not shown) for detecting the remaining amount of the developer of each cartridge, the control unit 200 sets the detected remaining amount value as a preset threshold value for the cartridge life notice and the life warning. Let them compare. Then, for a cartridge whose detected remaining value is less than the threshold value, a display unit (not shown) displays a life notice or a life warning for the cartridge. This encourages the user to prepare a replacement cartridge or replace the cartridge to maintain the quality of the output image.

In the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the cartridge P is replaced by placing the cartridge P on a drawer tray (moving member) 35 and replacing it by front access (drawer method) in order to improve usability.

That is, on the front side of the apparatus main body 100A, an opening 30 is provided to allow the cartridge P to be inserted into the cartridge accommodating portion 100B inside the apparatus main body 100A, and conversely, to allow the cartridge P to pass through in order to take out the cartridge P.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the main body door (closed position) A that closes the opening 30 and the opening position B that opens the opening 30 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 can be moved. An opening / closing member) 31 is provided. Reference numeral 31a is an opening / closing finger hook portion provided on the door 31. That is, the main body door 31 can have a closing position A for closing the opening 30 and an opening position B for opening the opening 30.

In this embodiment, the door 31 can be opened and closed with respect to the device main body 100A about the horizontal axis (hinge axis) 32 on the lower side of the door. That is, the door 31 can be rotated about the hinge shaft 32 in the upright direction so as to be closed with respect to the device main body 100A as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. By closing the door 31, the opening 30 is closed.

Further, the door 31 can be tilted substantially horizontally toward the front side of the device main body 100A and rotated around the hinge shaft 32 so as to be opened from the device main body 100A as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. As a result, the opening 30 on the front surface of the apparatus main body is greatly opened. Reference numeral 31a is an opening / closing finger hook portion provided on the door 31.

The device main body 100A has a main frame (main body frame) as a skeleton. Then, as shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, 17, 19, 23, etc., the left and right side plates of the frame, the left frame 80L and the right frame 80R, are opposed to each other, and a pair of left and right sides having a longitudinal direction in the front-rear direction. The tray holding members (moving means) 34L and 34R are arranged.

On the tray holding members 34L and 34R, a cartridge tray (moving member) 35, which is a frame-shaped member, is horizontal between the left and right frames 80L and 80R in the front-rear direction (horizontal to the installation surface of the apparatus main body 100A). It is held so that it can slide linearly in the direction). The cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK are placed and supported on the tray 35. That is, the tray 35, which is a moving member, supports and moves the cartridge P, and can move between the two side plates 80L and 80R facing each other and forming the skeleton of the apparatus main body 100A.

When the door 31 is located at the closed position A as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tray 35 is located at the image forming position (storage position) C at which each cartridge P is positioned at the mounting position where the image forming operation can be performed. doing. In this embodiment, the image forming position C of the tray 35 is a position where the drum 1 of each cartridge P and the belt 13 of the intermediate transfer unit 12 come into contact with each other (FIG. 2).

Then, in conjunction with the opening rotation of the door 31, the tray holding members 34L and 34R move in a predetermined amount in the forward direction and upward as described later. As a result, the tray 35 supporting the cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK moves forward and upward as shown in FIG. 4 from the image forming position C and is repositioned to the movable position D. As the tray 35 moves, the drum 1 of each cartridge P supported by the tray 35 separates from the belt 13 as shown in FIG. The interlocking mechanism between the door 31 and the tray holding members 34L and 34R will be described later.

Then, as will be described later, in conjunction with the opening rotation of the door 31, the conduction of the power supply system 75 on the device main body 100A side to the electrical contact 55 of each cartridge P is released (power supply release). Further, the coupling of the drive output units 39 and 40 on the device main body side to the drive input units 53 and 54 of each cartridge P is released (drive release). Further, the pressing of the pressing member 42 that positions and fixes each cartridge P is released (press release).

Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the handle portion (movement restriction releasing means) 35a provided in the portion of the tray front frame piece 35b exposed from the open opening 30 is grasped. By grasping the handle portion 35a in a predetermined manner, as shown in FIGS. 15A to 15B, the pop-out prevention claw (movement restricting means) 101 of the tray 35 becomes the main body side claw hook portion (main body side engaging portion) 102. Depart from.

Then, the tray 35 can be pulled out from the movable position D inside the device main body 100A to the outside of the device main body 100A, slides with respect to the tray holding members 34L and 34R, and can be slid horizontally in the forward direction. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the tray 35 projects from the opening 30 to a predetermined drawer position outside the apparatus main body 100A, that is, a detachable position E from which the cartridge P can be detachably attached / detached from the tray 35. As a result, the entire first to fourth four cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK held in the tray 35 pass through the opening 30 and are exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body 100A. The upper surface of all cartridges P is opened. When the tray 35 is pulled out from the movable position D by a sufficient predetermined amount, the tray 35 is prevented from further pulling out by a stopper portion (not shown). Further, the tray 35 is held in a state where it is horizontally pulled out to a predetermined attachment / detachment position E by the tray holding members 34L and 34R and the connecting arms 37L and 37R described later.

The tray 35 supports the individual cartridges P so that they can be taken out directly above (upward) at the attachment / detachment position E. Further, the tray 35 is supported by moving each cartridge directly downward (downward). Therefore, the used cartridge to be replaced is lifted upward from the tray 35 and removed as shown by the broken line in FIG. Then, the new cartridge is fitted into the tray 35 from above and placed on the tray 35. That is, when the tray 35 is pulled out to the outside of the device main body 100A, the cartridge P can be attached to and detached from the device main body.

In the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the tray 35 supports the cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the direction of moving from the movable position D to the detachable position E. doing. That is, the cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK containing the Y color, M color, C color, and K color developing agents are supported in this order. That is, the cartridge PK containing the K-color developer among the plurality of cartridges P having different colors of the developer is the most downstream side in the moving direction in which the tray 35 moves from the movable position D to the detachable position E. Is supported by.

The cartridge PK is a cartridge that consumes more developer than other cartridges, that is, is frequently replaced. This cartridge PK is supported by the tray 35 on the front side of the apparatus main body 100A. Therefore, when the cartridge PK is replaced, the cartridge PK can be exposed to the outside of the device main body 100A by slightly pulling out the tray 35 to the outside of the device main body 100A. That is, when replacing the cartridge PK, it is not necessary to sufficiently pull out the tray 35 until the pull-out position is regulated by the stopper. Therefore, the replacement operability of the cartridge PK has been improved.

That is, when the cartridge PK located on the most downstream side in the pull-out direction of the tray 35 is attached / detached to / from the tray 35, the tray 35 does not have to be sufficiently located at the attachment / detachment position E. That is, the plurality of cartridges P can be sequentially removed from the cartridges on the downstream side in the moving direction while the tray 35 is moved from the movable position D to the detachable position E, and all the cartridges can be removed at the detachable position E. ..

In the above, the tray 35 is movable so as to be movable in a direction (vertical direction) orthogonal (intersecting) with the axial direction (longitudinal direction of the cartridge P) of the drum 1 of the cartridge P mounted on the tray 35. It is a member. That is, the moving direction between the movable position D and the attachment / detachment position E of the tray 35 is a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the cartridge P. A plurality of cartridges P can be placed side by side on the tray 35 in the moving direction between the movable position D and the detachable position E.

Then, the tray 35 on which the cartridge P is placed can have an image forming position (storage position) C, a movable position D, and a detachable position E as described above.

The image forming position (storage position) C of the tray 35 is a position located inside the apparatus main body 100A and positioning the cartridge P at a mounting position capable of performing image forming operation (FIG. 2).

The attachment / detachment position E of the tray 35 is a position protruding from the opening 30 to the outside of the apparatus main body 100A in order to make the cartridge P removable (FIGS. 5 and 6).

The movable position D of the tray 35 is located in the middle of the movement path from the attachment / detachment position E to the image formation position C, and the image formation position is linked to the movement of the main body door 31 from the open position B to the closed position A. It is a position where it can be moved to C (Fig. 4).

The left and right tray holding members 34L and 34R move the tray 35 upward from the image forming position C toward the movable position D before moving the tray 35 to the attachment / detachment position (drawer position) E where the cartridge P can be attached / detached. It is a means of transportation to move. On the contrary, it is a moving means for moving the tray 35 downward from the movable position D toward the image forming position C.

In other words, the tray holding members 34L and 34R are support members that support the tray 35, and are the first positions for moving the tray 35 between the detachable position E and the movable position D. , A second position for positioning the tray 35 at the image forming position C can be taken. Then, as the door 31 is closed from the open position B to the closed position A, the tray holding members 34L and 34R move from the first position to the second position. Further, the tray holding members 34L and 34R move from the second position to the first position in conjunction with the opening of the door 31 from the closing position A to the opening position B.

"cartridge"
7 and 8 are external perspective views of the cartridge P, respectively. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cartridge P as viewed from the non-driving side, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cartridge P as viewed from the driving side.

The cartridge P is a horizontally long box-shaped assembly in which the axial direction of the drum 1 is the left-right direction and the left-right direction is the longitudinal direction. The drum 1 is rotatably supported and arranged between the bearing portions 51 and 52 arranged on the right side surface portion and the left side surface portion of the cartridge frame body 5. The right bearing portion 51 is provided with a coupling fitting portion 53 as a drum drive input portion (drive connecting portion). Further, the right side surface portion is provided with a coupling fitting portion 54 as a development drive input portion (drive connection portion) for driving the development roller 3a.

On the left side surface portion, a positioning protrusion 57 in the left-right direction of the cartridge P and a cartridge electric contact (feeding contact portion) 55 are arranged. A part of the cartridge frame 5 is extended in the left-right direction and overhangs on the left side surface portion and the right side surface portion, respectively, and an eaves portion 56 is provided. An exposure window 6 is arranged along the length on the upper surface of the cartridge frame 5.

In the above cartridge P, the right side surface portion provided with the coupling fitting portions 53 and 54 is the drive side, and the left side surface portion provided with the electrical contact 55 on the opposite side is the non-drive side. That is, when the cartridge P is placed on the tray 35, one end of the tray moving surface in the direction orthogonal to the moving direction between the attachment / detachment position E and the movable position D of the tray 35 (longitudinal direction of the cartridge). The drive connecting portions 53 and 54 are provided on the side (right side). The power feeding contact portion 55 is provided on the other end side (left side).

"tray"
FIG. 9 is an external perspective view of the tray 35. This tray 35 has a rectangular large frame portion, and the inside of the large frame portion is divided into four substantially equally in the front-rear direction by three partition plates 35f, and the tray 35 is ordered from the rear frame 35c side to the front frame 35b side. The first to fourth horizontally long small frame portions 35 (1) to 35 (4) are formed. Each of the small frame portions 35 (1) to 35 (4) is a portion for holding the first to fourth four cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK, respectively.

Each cartridge P is inserted into the corresponding small frame portion of the tray 35 from above, and the lower surfaces of the eaves 56 on the left and right sides are received by the upper surfaces of the left and right frames 35d and 35e of the tray 35, so that the cartridges P are mounted on the tray 35 and supported. Will be done. That is, the tray 35 supports each cartridge P so that it can be taken out directly above (upward). Further, the cartridge P is supported by the tray 35 by moving each cartridge P directly downward (downward). The tray 35 holds each cartridge P roughly. This configuration makes it easy to replace the cartridge.

The lower surfaces of the left and right frames 35d and 35e of the tray 35 are supported by being placed on the upper surfaces of the left and right tray holding members 34L and 34R, respectively. As a result, the tray 35 is supported between the inner sides of the left and right frames 80L and 80R, and slides horizontally on the upper surfaces of the tray holding members 34L and 34R in the front-rear direction with respect to the tray holding members 34L and 34R. It is possible.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the tray 35 is pulled out to the attachment / detachment position E, and the cartridge P to be replaced among the cartridges P held in the tray 35 is replaced. After the replacement, the tray 35 is pushed in and moved sufficiently to be stored inside the main body of the apparatus, and the tray 35 is returned to the state before being pulled out in FIGS. At this time, by urging the tray 35 from the rear side to the front side by the spring (pressing means) 103 (FIG. 15), it is possible to reliably guide the user to sufficiently push the tray 35 back to a predetermined position. Is. This will be described later.

When the tray 35 is sufficiently pushed back to a predetermined position, the pop-out prevention claw (movement restricting means) 101 of the tray 35 engages with the main body side claw hook portion (main body side engaging portion) 102 ((b) in FIG. 15). → (a)). As a result, the tray 35 is pushed back from the attachment / detachment position E to the movable position D inside the apparatus main body, and the position is restricted to that position.

Then, by closing the open door 31 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image forming apparatus 100 is in a state where an image can be formed. That is, the tray holding members 34L and 34R move by a predetermined amount in the rear direction and downward in conjunction with the closing rotation of the door 31 from the opening position B to the closing position A, so that the tray 35 moves from the movable position D to the image. Move to the formation position C. As a result, each cartridge P supported by the tray 35 is located at each corresponding mounting position in the cartridge accommodating portion 100B inside the apparatus main body.

Then, in conjunction with the closing rotation of the door 31, the drive output units 39 and 40 on the device main body side are coupled to the drive input units 53 and 54 of each cartridge P. At this time, each cartridge P receives pressing force from the drive output units 39 and 40 and is offset to the driven side (left side), and the positioning protrusion 57 in the left-right direction of each cartridge P hits the left frame 80L in the left-right direction. Is positioned.

Next, each cartridge P is pressed by the pressing member 42 and held in a state of being fixed to a predetermined positioning portion 41. Further, the power feeding system 75 on the device main body side comes into contact with the electric contact 55 of each cartridge P to make it conductive. A series of operations linked to the closing rotation of the door 31 will be described later.

<< Interlocking mechanism between door and tray holding member >>
The interlocking mechanism between the door 31 and the tray holding members 34L and 34R will be described with reference to FIGS. 10-12, 17 and 19.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the interlocking mechanism portion of the door 31 and the tray holding members 34L and 34R, and the left and right frames 80L and 80R of the apparatus main body 100A are not shown for convenience of explanation. The hinge portions 32L and 32R of the door 31 are arranged horizontally on the coaxial line in the left-right direction with respect to the device main body 100A, and the left and right end portions thereof are between the bearing members (not shown) provided on the left and right sides of the device main body 100A. It is rotatably bearing and held. The bearing member may be the left and right frames 80L and 80R (FIG. 17).

Further, connecting arms 37L and 37R are arranged near the left and right ends of the door 31, respectively. The hinge portions 38L and 38R of the connecting arms 37L and 37R are arranged horizontally on the coaxial line in the left-right direction with respect to the device main body 100A, and are rotatable with respect to bearing members (not shown) provided on the left and right sides of the device main body, respectively. It is held in. The bearing member may be the left and right frames 80L and 80R.

Further, a pair of left and right connecting rods 201L and 201R having a longitudinal direction in the front-rear direction are arranged on the outside of the left frame 80L (FIG. 17) and the outside of the right frame 80R (FIG. 19). The connecting rods 201L and 201R are supported by guide members (not shown) provided on the left and right sides of the main body of the apparatus so as to be movable only in the front-rear direction.

The connecting arms 37L and 37R are provided with lateral shafts 37a and 37b, respectively. The lateral shaft 37a of the left connecting arm 37L is fitted into and engaged with the vertically elongated hole 201A provided on the front side of the left connecting rod 201L. The lateral shaft 37b is fitted and engaged with the groove 31B provided on the left side surface of the door 31. Further, the lateral shaft 37a of the right connecting arm 37R is fitted and engaged with the vertically elongated hole 201A provided on the front side of the right connecting rod 201R. The lateral shaft 37b is fitted and engaged with the groove 31B provided on the right side surface of the door 31.

Further, the left and right tray holding members 34L and 34R have two pin shafts 34c and 34d planted at intervals in the front and rear, respectively, and guide holes 36 provided in the left and right frames 80L and 80R of the apparatus main body 100A, respectively. It is engaged with (FIG. 11). By engaging the pin shafts 34c and 34d with the guide hole 36, the tray holding members 34L and 34R are supported by the left and right frames 80L and 80R, respectively.

The pin shaft 34c of the tray holding member 34L on the left side penetrates the guide hole 36 and is fitted into and engaged with the vertically elongated hole 201B provided in the connecting rod 201L on the left side. Although the tray holding member 34R on the right side is not shown, the pin shaft 34c of the tray holding member 34R on the right side penetrates the guide hole 36 and fits into the vertically elongated hole 201B provided in the connecting rod 201R on the right side. And engaged.

In this way, the door 31 and the tray holding members 34L and 34R are connected via the connecting arms 37L and 37R and the connecting rods 201L and 201R. As a result, when the door 31 is opened and closed, a moving force in the front-rear direction acts on the left and right tray holding members 34L and 34R. At this time, the hinge portions 38L and 38R of the connecting arms 37L and 37R may be coaxial with the hinge portions 32L and 32R of the door 31. Further, the door 31 and the connecting rods 201L and 201R may be directly connected without providing the connecting arms 37L and 37R.

FIG. 11 shows two pin shafts 34c, 34d and a guide hole 36 for the tray holding member 34L on the left side. Although the tray holding member 34R on the right side is not shown, it is the same as the tray holding member 34L on the left side, and its pin shafts 34c and 34d and the guide hole 36 are configured symmetrically with the tray holding member 34L on the left side.

Therefore, the left and right tray holding members 34L and 34R have a degree of freedom to move with respect to the left frame 80L and the right frame 80R in the guide range of the guide hole 36, respectively.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the guide hole 36 portion. Each of the guide holes 36 has a first guide region 36a that is horizontal in the front-rear direction and a second guide region 36b that is vertically inclined and is connected in the pin axis forward direction of the first guide region 36a. Further, it has a third guide region 36c which is connected to the top of the second guide region 36b and which receives and stably holds the pin shafts 34c and 34d.

The pin shafts 34c and 34d, that is, the left and right tray holding members 34L and 34R, move as follows in conjunction with the opening rotation of the door 31. That is, after the first guide region 36a moves the distance a1 in the horizontal direction, the second guide region 36b moves diagonally upward (distance a2 in the horizontal direction, distance b1 in the vertical direction). Finally, the third guide region 36c moves a distance a3 in the horizontal direction.

FIG. 11A shows a state in which the door 31 is located at the closing position A and is sufficiently closed with respect to the apparatus main body 100A (opening 30). In this state, the left and right tray holding members 34L and 34R are moved backward in the apparatus main body via the connecting arms 37L and 37R and the connecting rods 201L and 201R. The pin shafts 34c and 34d are located at the rear end of the first guide region 36a of the guide hole 36.

Therefore, the left and right tray holding members 34L and 34R are held at predetermined lower positions (second positions) with respect to the left frame 80L and the right frame 80R, respectively. Therefore, the tray 35 held by the tray holding members 34L and 34R is also held at a predetermined lowering position, that is, the image forming position C (FIG. 2).

By holding the tray 35 at the image forming position C, each of the cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK held in the tray 35 is located at the mounting position where the image forming operation can be performed in the cartridge accommodating portion 100B. There is. Then, the upper surface portions on the left and right sides of each cartridge P are pressed by the pressing member 42. As a result, the lower surface portions of the bearing portion 51 on the driving side and the bearing portion 52 on the non-driving side are pressed against the positioning portions 41 (FIGS. 13 and 17) provided on the left and right positioning members 81L and 81R on the device main body 100A side. Be fixed. That is, each cartridge P is held in a predetermined positioning state with respect to the apparatus main body 100A.

In this state, the lower surface of the drum of each cartridge P is in stable contact with the upper surface of the upper belt portion of the belt 13 of the belt unit 12.

At this time, the drum drive coupling 39 and the development drive coupling 40 on the device main body 100A side are fitted into the coupling fitting portions 53 and 54 of each cartridge P, respectively. Further, the electric contacts 55 of each cartridge P are in a state where power can be supplied from the device main body side.

The right side of the tray 35 is urged from the rear side to the front side by a spring 103 (FIG. 15), and the pop-out prevention claw 101 is inserted in the main body side claw hook 102 provided on the right frame 80R of the device main body 100A. Is positioned.

FIG. 11B shows a state in which the door 31 is partially opened. When the door 31 is opened from the door closed state of FIG. 11A, the left and right tray holding members 34L and 34R are pulled forward in the apparatus main body 100A in conjunction with this. As a result, in the tray holding members 34L and 34R, the pin shafts 34c and 34d are guided by the first guide region 36a of the guide hole 36, and first move in the horizontal direction in the forward direction by the distance a1. FIG. 11B shows this state.

In the process of moving the distance a1 of the tray holding members 34L and 34R, first, the electrical connection between the electrical contact 55 of each cartridge P and the device main body 100A side is released. Next, the pressing positioning by the pressing member 42 of each cartridge P is also released. Further, the drum drive coupling 39 and the development drive coupling 40 for each cartridge P are released. At this time, the pop-out prevention claw 101 is inserted into the main body side claw hook 102 and is positioned so that the tray 35 does not follow the movements of the tray holding members 34L and 34R.

The tray holding members 34L and 34R are further pulled forward in the apparatus main body 100A in conjunction with the subsequent opening rotation of the door 31. As a result, the tray holding members 34L and 34R move diagonally upward with the pin shafts 34c and 34d guided by the second guide region 36b of the guide hole 36. At this time, since the pop-out prevention claw 101 of the tray 35 is contained in the claw hook portion 102 on the main body side, the tray 35 does not move in the horizontal direction, and the tray 35 moves in the vertical direction of the tray holding members 34L and 34R. Only follow. As a result, the drum 1 of the cartridge P and the belt 13 on the device main body 100A side are separated from each other.

FIG. 11C shows a state in which the door 31 is sufficiently opened. In this state, the tray holding members 34L and 34R have finished obliquely upward movement by the second guide region 36b, and the pin shafts 34c and 34d are located in the horizontal third guide region 36c. That is, the tray holding members 34L and 34R move diagonally upward and then in the horizontal direction.

This is to stabilize the positions of the cartridge P and the tray holding members 34L and 34R in the height direction when the tray 35 is subsequently pulled out from the tray holding members 34L and 34R and the cartridge P is replaced. This is also to prevent the tray holding members 34L and 34R from moving to return to their original positions.

As described above, the tray holding members 34L and 34R are moved diagonally upward and then in the horizontal direction, so that the tray holding members 34L and 34R are held in predetermined raised positions (first positions) with respect to the left frame 80L and the right frame 80R, respectively. Will be done. Therefore, the tray 35 held by the tray holding members 34L and 34R is also held at a predetermined raised position, that is, the position is changed from the image forming position C (FIG. 2) to the movable position D (FIG. 4).

In this state, the tray 35 can slide and move horizontally in the front-rear direction with respect to the tray holding members 34L and 34R by releasing the position restriction. That is, the tray 35 can be slid and moved between the removable position E where the cartridge P can be replaced and the movable position D for mounting the cartridge P inside the main body of the apparatus.

When the tray 35 is pulled out from the inside of the apparatus main body, the positioning protrusion 57 in the left-right direction of the cartridge P mounted on the tray 35 moves horizontally inside the left frame 80L. Therefore, it is desirable that the locus region through which the positioning protrusion 57 on the left frame 80L passes is a flat surface without holes or uneven shapes. That is, by not arranging the necessary holes on the left frame 80L in the locus region through which the positioning protrusions 57 pass, it is possible to prevent the positioning protrusions 57 from being scratched or scraped and to smoothly pull out the tray 35. The holes include, for example, a hole through which the main body electric contact spring 75 passes, a guide hole 36 of the tray holding member 34, and the like.

17 and 19 are perspective views showing a state in which the tray 35 is pulled out to the detachable position E where the cartridge P can be replaced. At this time, the tray 35 located at a position greatly protruding from the apparatus main body 100A is supported by the support portions 121L and 121R of the connecting arms 37L and 37R. As a result, the front side of the device body of the tray 35 is greatly bent downward by the weight of the tray 35 and the cartridge P, and the surface of the drum 1 is damaged, and the weight balance of the device body 100A is lost due to the pulling out of the tray 35, and the device body 100A falls forward. You can prevent it from happening.

The connecting arms 37L and 37R rotate in conjunction with the door 31. Therefore, the support portions 121L and 121R of the connecting arms 37L and 37R can be provided so as to be located inside the device main body 100A when the door 31 is closed and outside the device main body 100A when the door 31 is opened. .. As a result, the tray 35 can be stably held at the attachment / detachment position E without increasing the size of the main body of the apparatus, and usability at the time of cartridge replacement can be improved.

At this time, the shapes of the support portions 121L and 121R that support the tray 35 at the attachment / detachment position E and the number of fulcrums do not have to be as shown in FIGS. 17 and 19. Further, the door 31 may be integrally provided with a support portion (a portion that supports the pulled out tray 35) of the tray 35.

<< Tray position control means >>
The tray position regulating means will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 16 and 26.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state in which the tray 35 is sufficiently housed from the attachment / detachment position E on the outside of the device body 100 to the movable position D (FIG. 4) on the inside of the device body 100. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a state in which the tray 35 is not sufficiently stored up to the movable position D. FIG. 15 is an operation explanatory view of the movement regulating means for inducing the tray 35 to be sufficiently stored up to the movable position D.

In the state of FIG. 14 in which the tray 35 is not sufficiently pushed in, when the connecting arms 37L and 37R rotate in conjunction with the closing rotation of the door 31, the connecting arm 37L as shown in FIG. 16A. , 37R support portions 121L and 121R abut on the lower surface of the tray 35. Therefore, the door 31 cannot be closed and the tray holding members 34L and 34R cannot be pushed down to the rear lower side of the apparatus main body.

On the other hand, in the state of FIG. 13 in which the tray 35 is sufficiently pushed in, when the connecting arms 37L and 37R rotate in conjunction with the closing rotation of the door 31, the connecting arm 37L as shown in FIG. 16B. , 37R support portions 121L and 121R do not interfere with the tray 35. Therefore, the door 31 can be closed to push down the tray holding members 34R, 34L and the tray 35.

As shown in FIG. 15, the tray 35 is urged from behind by a spring 103 via a pressing member 104. Therefore, if the user does not push the tray 35 sufficiently, it will be in a state of protruding by a certain amount or more as shown in FIG. 15B according to the stroke amount of the spring 103. At this time, the position of the tray 35 is the state shown in (a) of FIGS. 14 and 16.

Therefore, if the user mistakenly closes the door 31 without sufficiently retracting the tray 35 to the movable position D, the support portions 121L and 121R of the connecting arms 37L and 37R surely interfere with the tray 35. Then, it is possible to prompt the correction of mistakes. On the other hand, in the state of (b) of FIGS. 13 and 16 in which the tray 35 is sufficiently pushed to the movable position D, the pop-out prevention claw 101 engages with the main body side engaging means 102. Therefore, the tray 35 sufficiently pushed to the movable position D can be positioned with respect to the apparatus main body 100A as shown in FIG. 15A.

FIG. 26 shows the form of the pop-out prevention claw 101 and the main body side engaging means 102 in this embodiment. The pop-out prevention claw 101 is a claw member that appears and disappears in conjunction with the operation of the movable handle portion 35a from the hole portion 35bH provided in the right side surface 35bR of the front frame 35b of the tray 35. The pop-out prevention claw 101 is maintained in a state of protruding from the hole portion 35bH by an urging means (not shown), and when the handle portion 35a is pulled toward the front, it retracts into the hole portion 35bH.

The main body side engaging means 102 is a vertically elongated hole provided in the right frame 80R of the device main body 100A. The tray 35 is positioned at the movable position D by the claw 101 on the tray 35 side protruding from the hole 35bH and engaging with the elongated hole 102 as the main body side engaging means. When the claw 101 retracts into the hole portion 35bH, the engagement with the elongated hole 102 is released.

The main body side engaging means 102 is a vertically elongated hole. As a result, the tray 35 is repositioned from the movable position D to the image forming position C and moved from the image forming position C in a state where the pop-out prevention claw 101 and the main body side engaging means 102 are engaged. The position can be changed to the possible position D.

When the tray 35 is located at the movable position D, the pop-out prevention claw 101 is engaged with the main body side engaging means 102. As a result, the tray 35 is locked at the movable position D and its movement is restricted.

In this state, when the handle portion 35a is pulled toward the front, the pop-out prevention claw 101 retracts into the hole portion 35bH, and the engagement with the main body side engaging means 102 is disengaged. As a result, the movement restriction of the tray 35 is released, and the tray 35 is pushed forward slightly by the urging force of the spring 103 via the pressing member 104. The user can subsequently pull the handle 35a to slide the tray 35 to the attachment / detachment position E.

On the contrary, the tray 35 is pushed and moved from the attachment / detachment position E into the apparatus main body 100A. The rear frame 35c of the tray 35 comes into contact with the pressing member 104 shortly after the tray 35 reaches the movable position D. When the tray 35 is continuously pushed and moved against the urging force of the pressing member 104 by the spring 103, the pop-out prevention claw 101 engages with the main body side engaging means 102 when the tray 35 reaches the movable position D. As a result, the tray 35 is locked at the movable position D and its movement is restricted.

The number and shape of the pop-out prevention claw 101 and the main body side engaging means 102 of the tray 35 do not have to be as shown in FIGS. 15 and 26. Further, the number and shape of the pressing means 103 and 104 of the tray 35 do not have to be as shown in FIG.

《Interface part》
The configuration of the interface portion between each process cartridge and the image forming apparatus, that is, the power feeding configuration, the pressing member configuration, and the drive coupling member configuration will be described.

(Power supply configuration)
17 and 18 are views for explaining a method of supplying power to each cartridge P from the apparatus main body 100A. On the left side (non-driving side) of the main body of the apparatus, there are main body electric contact springs 75 (75a, 75b,) which are power feeding members (electric contact units) in order to supply power to the electric contacts (feeding contact portions) 55 of each cartridge P. 75c and 75d) are provided, respectively.

FIG. 17A is a perspective view of a state in which the door 31 is opened and the tray 35 is pulled out to the attachment / detachment position E as viewed from the left side. Each cartridge P is supported on the tray 35 along the horizontal direction of the apparatus main body. On the left side surface of each cartridge P, electrical contacts 55 of the cartridge P are provided at the same positions in the vertical direction.

A plurality of main body electrical contact springs 75a to 75d electrically connected to the main body side power feeding unit 74 provided on the outside of the left frame 80L of the device main body 100A are located at the same position in the horizontal direction and vertical direction of the device main body. They are provided side by side. FIG. 17B is an enlarged view of the vicinity of one main body electric contact spring 75, and FIG. 17C is a perspective view of the vicinity of one main body electric contact spring 75 as viewed from the inside of the left frame 80L.

One end of each of the main body electric contact springs 75a to 75d is electrically connected to the main body side power feeding unit 74. The other end is held by the main body electric contact spring holder 76, and the cartridge electric contact contact portion 77 protrudes toward the cartridge side through the hole portion 76d formed in the main body electric contact spring holder 76.

The left and right ends 76a and 76b of the main body electric contact spring holder 76 are rotatably supported and held between bearing members (not shown) provided on the main body 100A. The main body electric contact spring holder 76 tends to rotate to the side where the cartridge electric contact contact portion 77 comes into contact with the cartridge by the urging force of the main body electric contact spring 75. At this time, the rotation of the shaft portion 76c of the main body electric contact spring holder 76 is restricted by the cam surface 201D of the connecting rod 201L.

18 (a) and 18 (b) show the state of electrical connection and disconnection between the electric contact 55 of the cartridge P and the electric contact spring 75 of the main body. That is, the electric contact 55 of the cartridge P, the main body electric contact spring 75, the main body electric contact spring holder 76, the main body side feeding portion 74, and the connecting rod 201L are a part of the cross-sectional view seen from the upper surface of the apparatus main body, respectively.

FIG. 18A shows a state in which each cartridge P is lowered to a mounting position capable of performing image formation by moving the tray 35 downward to the image forming position C with the door 31 closed. There is. At this time, the cartridge electric contact contact portion 77 of the main body electric contact spring 75 protrudes toward the cartridge P side through the hole formed in the left frame 80L and is in contact with the electric contact 55 of the cartridge P.

That is, the main body electric contact spring 75 is located at the power supply position J that can supply power to the electric contact 55 of the cartridge P when the door 31 is located at the closed position A, and the main body electric contact spring 75 and the cartridge P are located. The electrical contacts 55 are electrically connected.

In FIG. 18B, with the door 31 opened, each cartridge P was raised from the mounting position where the image forming operation was possible by moving the tray 35 from the image forming position C to the movable position D. Indicates the state of being in position. When the connecting rod 201L moves to the front of the main body in conjunction with the opening rotation of the door 31, the main body electric contact spring holder 76 separates the main body electric contact spring 75 from the electric contact 55 of the cartridge P by the cam surface 201D. Rotate.

That is, the main body electric contact spring 75 is located at the separation position K (third separation position) separated from the electric contact 55 of the cartridge P when the door 31 is located at the open position B, and the main body electric contact spring 75 And the electrical contact 55 of the cartridge P is in a state of being electrically disconnected.

Further, at this time, the cartridge electric contact contact portion 77 is retracted to the outside of the apparatus main body from the hole formed in the left frame 80L. As a result, the tray 35 can be pulled out without coming into contact with the main body electric contact spring 75.

The cam surface 201D of the connecting rod 201L is formed of straight portions 201e and 201g and slope portions 201f. As a result, the main body electric contact spring 75 is in contact with the electric contact 55 of the cartridge P (feeding position J) when the door 31 is sufficiently closed with respect to the device main body 100A (closed position A). maintain. Further, when the door 31 is sufficiently opened (open position B), the state of being separated from the electrical contact 55 of the cartridge P (separation position K) is maintained.

At this time, the stroke amount of the main body electric contact spring 75 generated by the rotation of the electric contact spring holder 76, that is, the stroke amount from the feeding position J in contact with the cartridge electric contact 55 when the door is closed to the separation position K when the door is opened. Can say the following.

That is, this stroke is sufficient to not contact the cartridge electrical contact 55 when the tray 35 is pulled out and to electrically connect to the cartridge electrical contact 55 when the door is closed, even under the limit conditions of the dimensional variation range. Must be a good value. As the stroke amount is increased, the margin for dimensional variation increases, but at the same time, the amount of compression of the main body electric contact spring 75 when the door 31 is opened increases, which leads to an increase in the user operation force for opening the door 31. Therefore, it is important to reduce the stroke amount of the main body electric contact spring 75 as much as possible, that is, to guarantee the positional accuracy between related parts.

In this embodiment, as described above, the left-right positioning protrusion 57 of each cartridge P is abutted against the left frame 80L to determine the left-right position of each cartridge P. Therefore, by abutting the shaft portion of the main body electric contact spring holder 76 and the connecting rod 201L in the left-right direction against the left frame 80L, the dimensional variation from the cartridge electric contact 55 to the main body electric contact spring 75 can be reduced. Can be done. That is, the stroke amount of the main body electric contact spring 75 can be reduced, and the user operation force when opening and closing the door 31 can be reduced.

In FIGS. 17 and 18 described above, a method of supplying power to the electric contact 55, which is a power-received portion of each cartridge P, by using one main body electric contact spring 75 is shown. However, the same configuration is possible when each cartridge P has a plurality of power-supplied portions. In that case, even if one main body electric contact spring holder 76 holds a plurality of main body electric contact springs 75, or a configuration in which a plurality of main body electric contact spring holders 76 are provided for one cartridge P. There may be.

In FIGS. 17 and 18 described above, the left and right end portions 76a and 76b of the main body electric contact spring holder 76 are rotatably supported and held between the bearing members. Then, the configuration is shown in which the main body electric contact spring 75 is brought into contact with or separated from the electric contact 55 of the cartridge P by the rotational movement of the main body electric contact spring holder 76. However, the main body electric contact spring holder 76 moves horizontally in the left-right direction of the main body to bring the main body electric contact spring 75 into contact with or separate from the electric contact 55 of the cartridge P, similarly to the configuration of the drive coupling member described later. It may be a configuration to make it.

(Structure of pressing member)
As shown in FIGS. 13, 14, 17, and 19, left and right positioning members 81L and 81R are provided on both the right and left sides of the apparatus main body 100A, respectively. The left and right positioning members 81L and 81R are provided with positioning portions 41 for receiving the lower surface portions of the drive side bearing portion 51 and the non-drive side bearing portion 52 of each cartridge P, respectively. Then, on both the right side and the left side of the apparatus main body 100A, the bearing portion 51 on the driving side and the bearing portion 52 on the non-driving side of each cartridge P are fitted and fixed to the corresponding positioning portions 41. A pressing member 42 for pressing the left and right upper surfaces of each cartridge P is provided.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the state in which the door 31 is closed as viewed from the left side. FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the state of FIG. 17 in which the door 31 is opened and the tray 35 is pulled out as viewed from the right side. FIG. 20 is a partial perspective view showing the configuration of the pressing mechanism.

As shown in FIGS. 17, 19 and 23, pressing member rods 46L and 46R are provided on both outer sides of the left and right frames 80L and 80R, respectively. Further, rod link members 202L and 202R for interlocking the connecting rods 201L and 201R and the pressing member rods 46L and 46R, respectively, are provided.

In the left and right pressing member rods 46L and 46R, two horizontally elongated holes 46A planted at intervals in the front and rear are engaged with pin shafts 47 provided in the left and right frames 80L and 80R of the apparatus main body 100A, respectively. is there. By engaging the pin shaft 47 with the horizontally elongated hole 46A, the pressing member rods 46L and 46R are supported so as to be movable in the front-rear direction with respect to the left and right frames 80L and 80R, respectively.

The left and right rod link members 202L and 202R are rotatably held with respect to the link rotation shafts 83 provided on the left and right frames 80L and 80R of the apparatus main body 100A, respectively. The rod link members 202L and 202R are provided with lateral shafts 202a and 202b, respectively.

The lateral shaft 202a of the left rod link member 202L is fitted and engaged with the vertically elongated hole 201B provided in the left connecting rod 201L, and the lateral shaft 202b is vertically elongated provided in the left pressing member rod 46L. It is fitted and engaged in the hole 46B.

Similarly, the lateral shaft 202a of the right rod link member 202R is fitted and engaged with the vertically elongated hole 201B provided in the left connecting rod 201R, and the lateral shaft 202b is provided in the left pressing member rod 46R. It is fitted and engaged with the vertically elongated hole 46B.

As a result, the pressing member rods 46L and 46R move in the front-rear direction via the rod link members 202L and 202R in conjunction with the movement of the connecting rods 201L and 201R in the front-rear direction. That is, the pressing member rods 46L and 46R move in the front-rear direction in conjunction with the opening / closing rotation of the door 31.

When the door 31 is opened (FIG. 17) from the state where the door 31 is closed (FIG. 23), the connecting rods 201L and 201R move to the front side of the apparatus main body 100A as described above. At this time, the pressing member rods 46L and 46R move to the rear side of the apparatus main body 100A via the rod link members 202L and 202R. On the contrary, when the door 31 is closed (FIG. 23) from the state where the door 31 is opened (FIG. 17), the connecting rods 201L and 201R move to the rear side of the apparatus main body 100A. Then, the pressing member rods 46L and 46R move to the front side of the apparatus main body 100A via the rod link members 202L and 202R.

Further, the respective pressing members 42 are provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction of the apparatus main body 100A with respect to the pressing member holders 44L and 44R provided inside both the left and right frames 80L and 80R, respectively. Then, the pressing spring 43 is urged in the direction of pressing the left and right upper surfaces of the respective cartridges P.

As shown in FIG. 20, in the left and right pressing member holders 44L and 44R, the pin shafts 44a provided in the central portion in the front-rear direction are provided in the left and right frames 80L and 80R of the apparatus main body 100A, respectively. Is engaged in.

Further, the left and right pressing member holders 44L and 44R each have two pin shafts 44b planted at intervals in the front and rear through the vertically elongated holes 82 provided in the left and right frames 80L and 80R, respectively. Then, it is engaged with the guide holes 48 provided in each of the left and right pressing member rods 46L and 46R.

As a result, the positions of the left and right pressing member holders 44L and 44R are restricted in the vertical direction by the left and right pressing member rods 46L and 46R, respectively, and the vertical holes 45 of the left and right frames 80L and 80R are used in the front-rear direction. Position is regulated. That is, the left and right pressing member holders 44L and 44R move only in the vertical direction as the left and right pressing member rods 46L and 46R move in the front-rear direction.

FIG. 21 is an enlarged view of the guide hole 48 portion of the pressing member rod 46L as viewed from the left side surface of the main body. Each of the guide holes 48 has a first guide region 48a that is horizontal in the front-rear direction and a second guide region 48b that is vertically inclined and is connected in the pin axis forward direction of the first guide region 48a. Further, it has a third guide region 48c which is connected to the top of the second guide region 48b and which receives and stably holds the pin shaft 44b.

FIG. 21A shows a state in which the door 31 is sufficiently closed with respect to the apparatus main body 100A. In this state, the pressing member rod 46L is located on the front side of the apparatus main body 100A. Therefore, the position of the pin shaft 44b, that is, the pressing member holder 44L, is restricted in the vertical direction by the first guide region 48a. At this time, each pressing member 42 presses the upper left surface of the cartridge.

21 (b) and 21 (c) show a state in which the door 31 is partially opened. When the door 31 is opened from the closed state of the door (a) in FIG. 21, the pressing member rod 46L moves to the rear side of the apparatus main body 100A in conjunction with this. As a result, the pin shaft 44b of the pressing member holder 44L is guided by the second guide region 48b of the guide hole 48 and moves upward.

At this time, since the pin shaft 44a of the pressing member holder 44L is contained in the vertically elongated hole 45 provided in the left frame 80L, the pressing member holder 44L does not move in the horizontal direction, and the pressing member holder 44L is only in the vertical direction. Moving. As a result, the pressing member 42 and the upper left upper surface of the cartridge are separated from each other.

FIG. 21D shows a state in which the door 31 is sufficiently opened. In this state, the pressing member rod 46L is located on the rear side of the apparatus main body. Therefore, the position of the pin shaft 44b, that is, the pressing member holder 44L, is restricted in the vertical direction by the third guide region 48c. That is, the pressing member 42 and the upper left upper surface of the cartridge are maintained in a separated state.

FIG. 21 describes the contact and separation of the pressing mechanism on the left side of the main body, but the pressing mechanism on the right side of the main body also contacts and separates with the same configuration.

As a result, the pin shafts 44b, that is, the left and right pressing member holders 44L and 44R, are linked to the opening rotation of the door 31, and the first guide is provided while the left and right pressing member rods 46L and 46R move a distance a4 in the horizontal direction. The vertical position is regulated by the region 48a. After that, while the left and right pressing member rods 46L and 46R move a distance a5 in the horizontal direction, they move a distance b2 in the vertical direction by the second guide region 48b.

Finally, while the left and right pressing member rods 46L and 46R move a distance a6 in the horizontal direction, the position in the vertical direction is regulated by the third guide region 48c. At this time, the vertically elongated holes 82 provided in the left and right frames 80L and 80R are sufficiently large with respect to the vertical movement region of the pin shaft 44b, and the movement is not restricted.

22 (a) and 22 (b) show the state of contact and separation between the left and right upper surfaces of the cartridge P and the pressing member 42. That is, the cartridge P, the pressing member 42, the pressing spring 43, and the pressing member holder 44 are a part of the cross-sectional view seen from the left side surface of the apparatus main body, respectively.

FIG. 22A shows a state in which the door 31 is closed (closed position A), and each cartridge P is pressed to a mounting position capable of performing image formation and is positioned and held. In this state, as described above, the pressing member holder 44 and the pressing member 42 are pushed down by the first guide region 48a provided on the pressing member rod 46. At this time, the pressing member 42 stops at a position where it abuts on the left and right upper surfaces of the respective cartridges P, and does not move below the pressing member 42. Therefore, the locking portion 44c provided on the pressing member holder 44 and the covering of the pressing member 42 are covered. A gap of a distance b3 is generated between the locking portions 42a.

That is, the pressing member 42 is located at the contact position H that contacts the cartridge P and fixes the position of the cartridge P when the door 31 is located at the closed position A. As a result, the pressing member 42 presses the left and right upper surfaces of the respective cartridges P by the force received from the pressing spring 43, so that the bearing portion 51 on the driving side and the bearing portion 52 on the non-driving side are fitted into the positioning portion 41. Is fixed.

Here, the directions in which the pressing member 42 comes into contact with the cartridge P are as follows. That is, the direction in which the drum drive coupling 39, which is a drive transmission member described later, and the development drive coupling 40 are connected to the cartridge P (connection direction), and the direction in which the power feeding member 75 is in contact with the cartridge P (contact direction). ) And the direction orthogonal to each other (vertical direction).

FIG. 22B shows a state in which the door 31 is opened (opening position B), the pressing of each cartridge P is released, and each cartridge P is in a position raised from the mounting position. When the pressing member rod 46 moves to the rear side of the main body in conjunction with the opening rotation of the door 31, the pressing member holder 44 is maintained in a pushed-up state by the third guide region 48c provided on the pressing member rod 46. .. When the pressing member holder 44 moves upward by a distance b3 from the pressing state of FIG. 22A, the locking portion 44c provided on the pressing member holder 44 and the locked portion 42a of the pressing member 42 come into contact with each other.

Therefore, beyond that, the pressing member holder 44 and the pressing member 42 are pushed up together. Here, the upward movement amount (b2-b3) of the pressing member 42 is provided to be larger than the upward movement amount (b1) of each cartridge P described above. As a result, the pressure on each cartridge P is released, and the pressing member 42 retracts to a position that does not restrict the horizontal movement of the tray 35.

That is, the pressing member 42 is located at the separation position I (second separation position) away from the cartridge P when the door 31 is located at the open position B. As a result, the left and right pressure on each cartridge P is released in conjunction with the opening rotation of the door 31.

(Structure of drive coupling member)
As shown in FIGS. 19 and 25, a drum drive coupling 39 and a development drive coupling 40 are provided on the right side of the apparatus main body 100A, respectively. The drum drive coupling 39 and the development drive coupling 40 are connected to the drive input units (drive connection units) 53 and 54 (FIG. 8) on the cartridge P side in order to rotationally drive the drum 1 and the development roller 3a of each cartridge P. It is a drive output unit (drive transmission member) to be connected.

FIG. 24 is a partially enlarged view showing how the drum drive coupling 39 abuts and separates from the drive input unit 53 on each cartridge P side. For the sake of explanation, the right frame 80R and the cartridge P) are shown. Not shown. FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the configuration of the drum drive coupling 39 and the development drive coupling 40 as viewed from the right side of the main body with the door 31 opened (open position B).

The drum drive coupling 39 and the development drive coupling 40 are supported so as to be rotatable with respect to a drive unit shaft (not shown) provided on the outside of the right frame 80R and movably in the direction of the rotation shaft. Then, the coupling portions 39a and 40a are urged in the direction of contacting the drive input portions 53 and 54 on each cartridge side by the coupling pressing springs (biasing means: urging member) 211, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 17, the right frame 80R is provided with a round hole 84 at the center of each drum drive coupling 39, and the drum drive coupling release lever 213 engages with the round hole 84 and It is rotatably provided (FIG. 24).

As shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, a pin shaft 213a is provided at one end of the drum drive coupling release lever 213. The pin shaft 213a of each drum drive coupling release lever 213 is fitted into and engaged with the vertically elongated hole 201C provided in the right connecting rod 201R. Further, the drum drive coupling release cam 212 is provided so as to engage with the drum drive coupling release lever 213 and to move in the rotation axis direction of the drum drive coupling 39.

The rib 212e provided on the drum drive coupling release cam 212 is held by a holder member (not shown), so that the drum drive coupling release cam 212 restricts the movement of the drum drive coupling release lever 213 in the rotation direction. Has been done.

FIG. 24A is an enlarged view of the drum drive coupling 39 portion, and shows a state in which the door 31 is sufficiently closed with respect to the apparatus main body 100A (closed position A). In this state, the drum drive coupling 39 is projected inside the apparatus main body by the coupling pressing spring 211 to a position where the coupling portion 39a abuts on the drive input portion 53 on each cartridge side. That is, the drum drive coupling 39 is located at the connection position F where the driving force can be transmitted to the drive input unit 53 of the cartridge P when the door 31 is located at the closed position A.

FIG. 24B shows a state in which the door 31 is sufficiently opened (open position B). When the door 31 is opened from the closed state of the door (a) in FIG. 24, the connecting rod 201R on the right side is pulled forward in the apparatus main body 100A in conjunction with this. As a result, the drum drive coupling release lever 213 rotates with respect to the drum drive coupling release cam 212. At this time, the cam surface 212A of the drum drive coupling release cam 212 moves the drum drive coupling release cam 212 to the right side of the main body along the rotation axis.

As a result, the end surface 212f of the drum drive coupling release cam 212 comes into contact with the drum drive coupling 39, and the drum drive coupling 39 is brought into contact with the drive input unit 53 on the cartridge side against the urging force of the coupling pressing spring 211. Move in the direction away from. That is, the drum drive coupling 39 is located at the separation position G (first separation position) away from the cartridge P when the door 31 is located at the open position B.

Similarly, the right frame 80R is provided with a round hole 85 at the center of each development drive coupling 40, and the development drive coupling release lever 215 is provided so as to engage with the round hole 85 and rotatably. (Figs. 17 and 25).

A pin shaft 215a is provided at one end of the development drive coupling release lever 215. The pin shaft 215a of each development drive coupling release lever 215 is fitted into and engaged with the vertically elongated hole 46C provided in the pressing member rod 46R on the right side.

Further, the development drive coupling release cam 214 is provided so as to engage with the development drive coupling release lever 215 and to move in the rotation axis direction of the development drive coupling 40. The rib 214e provided on the development drive coupling release cam 214 is held by a holder member (not shown), so that the development drive coupling release cam 214 restricts the movement of the development drive coupling release lever 215 in the rotational direction. Has been done.

When the door 31 is opened from the closed state of the door, the connecting rod 201R on the right side moves forward in the apparatus main body 100A in conjunction with this. Then, at the same time that the connecting rod 201R on the right side moves forward in the device main body, the pressing member rod 46R moves backward in the device main body via the rod link member 202R. As a result, the development drive coupling release lever 215 rotates with respect to the development drive coupling release cam 214.

At this time, the cam surface 214A of the development drive coupling release cam 214 causes the development drive coupling release cam 214 to move to the right side of the main body along the rotation axis. As a result, the end face of the development drive coupling release cam 214 comes into contact with the development drive coupling 40, and the development drive coupling 40 is moved from the drive input unit 54 on the cartridge side against the urging force of the coupling pressing spring 211. Move in the direction of separation.

In this state, the drum drive coupling 39 and the development drive coupling 40 are retracted to a position that does not restrict the vertical movement of the tray 35 and the horizontal movement of the tray 35 and each cartridge.

As shown in FIG. 24, the cam surface 212A of the drum drive coupling release cam 212 is formed of straight portions 212b and 212d and slope portions 212c. As a result, the drum drive coupling 39 maintains a state of being engaged with each cartridge P (connection position F) when the door 31 is sufficiently closed with respect to the apparatus main body 100A (closed position A). Further, when the door 31 is sufficiently opened (open position B), the state of being separated from each cartridge P (separation position G) is maintained.

The cam surface 214A of the development drive coupling release cam 214 is similarly configured. Therefore, the development drive coupling 40 also maintains a state of being engaged with each cartridge P (connection position F) when the door 31 is sufficiently closed with respect to the apparatus main body 100A (closed position A). Further, when the door 31 is sufficiently opened (open position B), the state of being separated from each cartridge P (separation position G) is maintained.

(Operation timing of each interface)
By the above mechanism, each interface portion for each cartridge P is released in conjunction with the movement of the door 31 from the closed position A to the open position B. That is, the main body electric contact spring 75, the pressing member 42, the drum drive coupling 39, and the development drive coupling 40 are released. Then, when the tray 35 is lifted from the image forming position C to the movable position D by the tray holding member 34, the tray 35 can freely slide and move between the movable position D and the detachable position D. ..

Therefore, the tray 35 is in a state in which the cartridge P can be placed and pulled out from the apparatus main body 100A, and conversely, the tray 35 can be stored inside the apparatus main body 100A.

In this way, the main body electric contact spring 75, the pressing member 42, the drum drive coupling 39, the development drive coupling 40, and the tray 35 operate in conjunction with the movement of the door 31. Here, the operation timing of each operation can be adjusted according to the shape of the cam surface in the above-mentioned operation control mechanism.

For example, the timing at which the tray 35 moves in the vertical direction can be adjusted by changing the horizontal position of the guide region 36b in the guide hole 36 shown in FIG. If the guide area 36a is set to be long and the guide area 36c is set to be short, the tray 35 can be moved downward on the side closer to the start (that is, the start of the closing operation) of the movements from the start to the end of the closing operation of the door 31. Can be done.

Similarly, the operation timing of the main body electric contact spring 75 can be adjusted by the cam surface 201D (FIG. 18) of the connecting rod 201L.

The operation timing of the pressing member 42 can be adjusted by the guide hole 48 (FIG. 21) of the pressing member rod 46.

The operation timing of the drum drive coupling 39 can be adjusted by the cam surface 212A (FIG. 24) of the drum drive coupling release cam 212.

The operation timing of the development drive coupling 40 can be adjusted by the cam surface 214A (FIG. 25) of the development drive coupling release cam 214.

In this embodiment, the operation timing of each operation is set so that each of the above operations is performed in the following order along the closing operation of the door 31.

The left and right tray holding members 34 have completed the oblique downward movement of the guide portion 36 by the second guide region 36b, and the pin shafts 34c and 34d are located in the horizontal first guide region 36a. That is, the tray 35 moves downward, and the lower surface portions of the bearing portion 51 on the driving side and the bearing portion 52 on the non-driving side of each cartridge are attached to the positioning portions 41 provided on the left and right positioning members 81L and 81R of the apparatus main body. It will be accepted.

Due to the rotation of the drum drive coupling release lever 213, the drum drive coupling release cam 212 finishes moving to the inside of the main body by the slope portion 212c. That is, the drum drive coupling 39 receives the urging force of the coupling pressing spring 211 and is connected to the drive input unit 53 on the cartridge side. Similarly, the rotation of the development drive coupling release lever 215 causes the development drive coupling release cam 214 to finish moving to the inside of the main body by the slope portion 214c. That is, the development drive coupling 40 receives the urging force of the coupling pressing spring 211 and is connected to the drive input unit 54 on the cartridge side.

At this time, each cartridge P receives the urging force of the coupling pressing spring 211 via the drum drive coupling 39 and the development drive coupling 40, and is offset to the left side of the main body of the apparatus. That is, the positioning protrusion 57 in the left-right direction of each cartridge abuts on the left frame 80L, and the position in the left-right direction is determined.

The left and right pressing member rods 44 finish moving downward by the second guide region 48b of the guide hole 48 provided in the pressing member rod 46. That is, the left and right pressing members 42 move downward and press the left and right upper surfaces of each cartridge. As a result, the bearing portion 51 on the driving side and the bearing portion 52 on the non-driving side are fitted and fixed to the positioning portion 41.

The main body electric contact spring holder 76 finishes moving the connecting rod 201L inward by the slope portion 201f. That is, the cartridge electric contact contact portion 77 of the main body electric contact spring 75 is brought into contact with the cartridge electric contact 55 and electrically connected.

The operation timing of each of the above operations is summarized as follows. The following operations (1) to (4) are performed in the order of (1) to (4) in conjunction with the movement of the door 31 from the open position B (FIG. 3) to the closed position A (FIG. 2). It is characterized by.

(1) The operation of moving the tray 35 from the movable position D to the image forming position C (FIG. 4 → 2).
(2) The operation of the drive transmission members 39 and 40 moving from the separation position G to the connection position F ((b) → (a) in FIG. 24).
(3) The operation of the pressing member 42 moving from the separation position I to the contact position H ((b) → (a) in FIG. 22).
(4) The operation of the power feeding member 75 moving from the separation position K to the power feeding position J ((b) → (a) in FIG. 18).
Further, when the door 31 is opened, the operation is performed in the reverse order ((4) → (3) → (2) → (1)). That is, along the opening operation of the door 31, the power feeding mechanism 75 is first separated, then the left and right pressing members 42 are separated, the drive coupling members 39 and 40 are further separated, and finally the tray 35 is moved upward (finally). It moves from the image formation position C to the movable position D).

The merit of setting the operation order of each operation as described above will be described. At the time of closing the door 31, first, according to the operation (1), the drive input units 53 and 54 of each cartridge P move to positions facing the drum drive coupling 39 and the development drive coupling 40, respectively.

After that, the drum drive coupling 39 and the development drive coupling 40 are brought into contact with the drive input units 53 and 54 of the cartridge by the operation (2). As a result, each drum drive coupling 39 and the drive input unit 53, and the development drive coupling 40 and the drive input unit 54 can be reliably connected.

Further, when the door 31 is opened, the drum drive coupling 39 and the development drive coupling 40 are separated from the cartridge drive input units 53 and 54, and then each cartridge is moved upward together with the tray 35. If the cartridge moves upward together with the tray 35 while the drive coupling is connected to the drive input portion of the cartridge, only the side of the drive coupling connected to the cartridge is lifted upward. Then, a twist may occur between the device and the other end supported by the device body, and the drive coupling may be damaged.

Further, if the tray 35 moves upward while the drive coupling protrudes from the right frame 80R to the inside of the main body, the drive coupling may come into contact with the right frame 35e of the tray 35 and be damaged.

That is, the operation (2) is performed after the operation (1). As a result, it is possible to prevent the drum drive coupling 39 and the development drive coupling 40 from being damaged by twisting of the main body side support portion and the cartridge connecting portion or contact with the right frame 35e of the tray 35.

Further, by the operation (2), each cartridge P is offset to the left side of the main body, and the positioning protrusion 57 in the left-right direction of each cartridge P abuts on the left frame 80L.

That is, as described above, the apparatus main body 100A is a coupling pressing spring (a urging means) that urges the drum drive coupling 39 and the development drive coupling 40 to the drive input portions 53 and 54 of the cartridge P. It has 211. The cartridge P is moved by the spring 211 from the side where the drive input portions 53 and 54 are provided to the side where the power supply contact portion 55 is provided. As a result, each cartridge P is offset to the left side of the main body, and the positioning protrusion 57 in the left-right direction of each cartridge P abuts on the left frame 80L.

After that, by the operation (3), the upper left and right sides of each cartridge P are pressed, and the bearing portion 51 on the driving side and the bearing portion 52 on the non-driving side are fitted and fixed to the positioning portion 41. As a result, the position of each cartridge in the left-right direction of the main body is accurately guaranteed with respect to the main frame.

Here, in the state of operation (2), the bearing portions 51 and 52 of each cartridge P and the positioning portion 41 are in contact with each other, but since the normal force generated between them is small, each cartridge P is offset to the left side of the main body. The frictional force generated at that time is also small. Further, the bearing portions 51 and 52 are not scraped by rubbing against the positioning portion 41. Further, since the main body electric contact spring 75 provided on the non-driving side is separated from the cartridge electric contact 55, when each cartridge is offset to the left side of the main body, the non-driving side may receive a force to prevent it. Absent.

That is, since it is not hindered by the pressing mechanism or the power feeding mechanism, the force of the coupling pressing spring 211 acting to shift each cartridge P to the left side of the main body can be suppressed to the minimum necessary. As described above, when the door 31 is opened, the drum drive coupling 39 and the development drive coupling 40 are horizontally moved against the urging force of the coupling pressing spring 211. Therefore, by suppressing the force of the coupling pressing spring 211 to be small, the operating force during the opening operation of the door 31 can be relaxed.

Further, by the operation (3), the upper left and right sides of each cartridge P are pressed, and the bearing portion 51 on the driving side and the bearing portion 52 on the non-driving side are fitted and fixed to the positioning portion 41. After that, by the operation (4), the main body electric contact spring 75 and the cartridge electric contact 55 are electrically connected. As a result, the contact force of the main body electric contact spring 75 with respect to the cartridge electric contact 55 does not push each cartridge back to the drive side (right side of the main body).

Further, each cartridge P is positioned at a position where the positioning protrusion 57 in the left-right direction abuts on the left frame 80L by the operation (2), and the position is fixed by the operation (3). As a result, the positional relationship between the main body electric contact spring 75 and the cartridge electric contact 55 in the main body left-right direction is guaranteed with high accuracy. Therefore, as described above, the stroke amount of the main body electric contact spring 75 can be reduced, and the user operation force when opening and closing the door 31 can be reduced.

For the above reason, by performing each operation timing in the order of (1) to (4) along with the closing operation of the door 31, the opening / closing force of the door 31 is relaxed and each cartridge P is reliably positioned. Can be done.

It should be noted that each of the operations (1) to (4) does not have to be sufficiently independently performed. For example, even if the operation of (2) is started in the middle of the operation of (1), the drum drive coupling 39 and the development drive coupling 40 start to come into contact with the drive input portions 53 and 54 of the cartridge before they start to come into contact with each other. It suffices if the operation of (1) is completed. That is, the drive input units 53 and 54 of each cartridge P may have finished moving to positions facing the drum drive coupling 39 and the development drive coupling 40.

Further, in order to relax the opening / closing force of the door 31, it is preferable to set the operation timing slightly different for each cartridge in each of the operations (2) to (4). For example, in the operation (2), the load applied to the door 31 may be dispersed by slightly changing the timing at which the drum drive coupling 39 comes into contact with the drive input unit 53 of the cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK.

Further, in the operation (2), the timing at which the drum drive coupling 39 abuts on the drive input portion 53 of the cartridge and the timing at which the development drive coupling 40 abuts on the drive input portion 54 of the cartridge are slightly different. Thereby, the load applied to the door 31 may be distributed. This makes it possible to reduce the peak force applied to the door 31 and reduce the operating force when the user operates the door 31.

(Advantages of positioning the cartridge with respect to the side plate)
In this embodiment, as described above, the spring force of the coupling pressing spring (urging member) 211 abuts the positioning protrusion 57 in the left-right direction of each cartridge against the left frame 80L, and the left-right frame 80L of each cartridge P is in the left-right direction. The position is decided.

That is, the apparatus main body 100A moves the cartridge P mounted on the tray 35 from one end side to the other end side in the direction orthogonal to the moving direction between the inside and the outside of the apparatus main body 100A of the tray 35 on the tray moving surface. It has an urging member 211 for pressing and urging. In this embodiment, the urging member 211 is included in the drive transmission members 39 and 40 to the cartridge P.

Then, when the tray 35 on which the cartridge P is placed is in the storage position C, the cartridge P is pressed and urged by the urging member 211, so that the positioning projection 57 abuts on the left frame 80L and is received by the cartridge P. Positioning in the orthogonal direction is performed. The operations of pressing and urging the cartridge P by the urging member 211 and releasing the pressing and urging are performed in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the door 31.

In this embodiment, the orthogonal direction is the longitudinal direction (drum axis direction) of the cartridge P, and is the left-right direction. The left frame 80L is a fixed side plate facing the other end side of the cartridge P mounted on the tray 35 in the orthogonal direction.

Thereby, the positional accuracy of the main body electric contact spring 75 and the cartridge electric contact 55 can be improved. That is, the stroke amount of the main body electric contact spring 75 can be reduced, and the operating force for opening and closing the door 31 by the user can be reduced.

In addition to this, it is preferable to provide the left frame 80L for positioning of other units in the left-right direction to improve the positioning accuracy of each unit with respect to the cartridge P.

In this embodiment, the main body electric contact spring 75, which is an electric contact unit that conducts with the cartridge P, is provided on the side of the left frame 80L where the cartridge P is positioned. Then, the positioning in the drum axis direction is performed by the left frame 80L. That is, an electric contact unit 75 that conducts with the cartridge P is provided on the side of the left frame 80L. The orthogonal positioning of the electrical contact unit 75 is performed by the left frame 80L.

The laser scanner unit (exposure unit) 11 abuts and positions a positioning portion in the longitudinal direction (main body left and right direction) of the exposure device holding member (not shown) that holds the unit (exposure device) 11 against the left frame 80L. Is fixed. That is, the exposure device holding member is positioned in the orthogonal direction by the left frame 80L. This makes it possible to improve the accuracy of the laser irradiation position with respect to the drum 1.

Further, the intermediate transfer belt unit 12 is fixed by abutting and positioning a positioning portion (not shown) in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction of the main body) with respect to the left frame 80L. That is, the developer image is primarily transferred toward the drum 1, and the intermediate transfer unit 12 that secondarily transfers the developer image to the recording material S is positioned in the orthogonal direction by the left frame 80L.

As a result, the positional accuracy of the belt 13, the drive roller 14, the turn roller 15, the tension roller 16, and the primary transfer roller 17 with respect to the drum 1 can be improved. As a result, the dimensions of the drum 1, the belt 13, the drive roller 14, the turn roller 15, the tension roller 16, and the primary transfer roller 17 in the left-right direction of the main body can be reduced. That is, it is possible to realize miniaturization and cost reduction in the left-right direction of the main body.

Further, the fixing device (fixing unit) 23 is fixed by abutting and positioning a positioning portion (not shown) in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction of the main body) with respect to the left frame 80L. That is, the left frame 80L positions the fixing unit 23 in the orthogonal direction by applying heat and pressure to the recording material S) on which the developer image is transferred to fix the image and discharge the paper.

Thereby, the position accuracy of the fixing device 23 can be improved. That is, by positioning the fixing unit 23 with the left frame 80L, the deviation between the fixing members 23a and 23b and the developer image on the belt 13 in the left-right direction can be suppressed to a small extent. As a result, the dimensions of the fixing members 23a and 23b in the left-right direction of the main body can be reduced. That is, it is possible to realize miniaturization and cost reduction in the left-right direction of the main body.

Further, the left frame 80L positions the paper feed unit 18 in which the sheet-shaped recording medium S on which the developer image is transferred is stocked and conveyed one by one in the orthogonal direction. As a result, the deviation between the developer image on the belt 13 and the recording medium S conveyed from the paper feed unit 18 in the left-right direction can be suppressed to a small extent, and the deviation of the printed image with respect to the recording medium S in the left-right direction can be reduced.

<< Other matters >>
(A) In the present invention, the cartridge P is an integrated process including an image carrier 1 on which a latent image of an embodiment is formed and a developing means 3 for developing a latent image formed on the image carrier with a developer. Not limited to cartridges.

The cartridge P is a separable process cartridge including an image carrier 1 on which a latent image is formed and an image forming process means other than a developing means for developing the latent image formed on the image carrier with a developer. May be good.

The cartridge P stores and stores a developing means for developing a latent image formed on an image carrier 1 on which a latent image is formed with a developing agent and a developing agent used for developing the latent image. It may be a developing cartridge having a portion.

The cartridge supported by the tray 35 is a pair (combination) of a separate process cartridge and a developing cartridge. Then, at least one of the process cartridge and the developing cartridge may be removably supported with respect to the tray 35.

The cartridge also includes a unit that is detachably mounted on the body of the apparatus and contributes to the image forming process of forming an image on a recording medium.

(B) In the embodiment, as an image forming apparatus, a full-color electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which four cartridges containing developeres of different colors can be attached and detached is illustrated. However, the number of cartridges to be mounted on the device is not limited to this, and the number is appropriately set. The number of cartridges P may be one, two, three, or five or more. The present invention is also applicable to a monochromatic image forming apparatus having one cartridge.

(C) In the embodiment, the tray 35 that moves linearly in the horizontal direction with respect to the installation surface of the apparatus main body 100A has been described. However, the tray (cartridge support member) 35 in the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the tray 35 may be movable in a horizontal direction, diagonally upward, or diagonally downward with respect to the installation surface of the apparatus main body 100A in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the drum 1. The tray 35 may be removed from the apparatus main body 100A by releasing the stopper.

(D) In the image forming apparatus 100 of the embodiment, the intermediate transfer unit 12 may be a recording medium transfer transfer belt device that holds and conveys the recording material S. That is, the intermediate transfer unit 12 is a recording medium transfer transfer belt device (recording medium transfer) having a recording medium transfer member that transfers the recording medium S in order to directly transfer the developer image formed on the drum 1 to the recording medium S. It can also be a transfer means).

(E) The image forming apparatus is not limited to the printer as in the embodiment. For example, it may be another image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile apparatus, or another image forming apparatus such as a multifunction device combining these functions.

(F) The image forming process of the image forming apparatus is not limited to the electrophotographic process. An electrostatic recording process using an electrostatic recording dielectric as an image carrier, a magnetic recording process using a magnetic recording magnetic material, or the like may be used.

100 ... image forming device, 100A ... device body, P (PY, PM, PC, PK) ... cartridge, S ... recording medium, 30 ... opening, 31 ... body door, A ... closed position, B ... Open position, 35 ... Tray, C ... Image formation position (storage position), D ... Movable position, E ... Detachable position, 53.54 ... Cartridge side drive connection, 39.40・ ・ Drive transmission member on the device body side, F ・ ・ Connection position, G ・ ・First separation position, 42 ・ ・ Pressing member, H ・ ・ Contact position, I ・ ・Second separation position, 55 ・ ・Power supply contact on the cartridge side, 75 ... Power supply member on the device body side, J ... Power supply position, K ... Third separation position

Claims (16)

An image forming apparatus capable of attaching and detaching the cartridge for forming an image on a recording medium,
An opening provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus and
A main body door that can have a closed position for closing the opening and an open position for opening the opening.
A tray for mounting the cartridge, the body door upon is positioned in said closed position, and an image forming position to position on the image forming operation capable of positioning the cartridge in the interior of the apparatus main body, when the positions the said body door to the open position, the position in the middle of the movement path of the wearing-off position for detachable said cartridge outside of the apparatus main body, from the detaching position to the image forming position and has a movable position capable of moving said interlocked body door for you move to the closed position from the open position to the image forming position, the tray can take,
A support member movably supports the tray, in conjunction with the movement of the front Stories body door,
When the main body door is positioned in said closed position, and a coupling position capable of transmitting a driving force to said cartridge, when said body door is positioned at the open position, a first spaced position away from the cartridge With a drive transmission member that can take
A second contact position in which the main body door is pressed against the cartridge to position the device main body when the main body door is in the closed position, and a second position in which the main body door is separated from the cartridge when the main body door is in the open position . The separation position of, the pressing member that can take, and
When the main body door is located at the closed position, the power supply position capable of supplying power to the power supply contact portion of the cartridge is separated from the power supply contact portion of the cartridge when the main body door is located at the open position. It has a third separation position and a power feeding member that can take it.
An operation in which the tray moves from the movable position to the image forming position in conjunction with the movement of the main body door from the open position to the closed position, and the drive transmission member moves from the first separation position to the image formation position. operation of moving the connecting position, the pressing member is performed in the order of operation the operation of moving the contact position from the second spaced position, wherein said feeding member is moved to the feed position from said third separated position An image forming apparatus characterized in that. An operation in which the feeding member moves from the feeding position to the third separation position in conjunction with the movement of the main body door from the closed position to the opening position, and the pressing member moves from the contact position to the first position. operation of moving in two spaced positions, is performed in the order of operation operation the drive transmission member is moved to said first spaced position from said connecting position, in which the tray is moved to the movable position from the image forming position The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The cartridge has an image carrier on which a latent image is formed, and the apparatus main body has a transfer unit in which a developer image formed on the image carrier is transferred in contact with the image carrier. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the image forming position of the tray is a position where the image carrier and the transfer unit come into contact with each other. 3. The transfer unit according to claim 3, wherein the developer image formed on the image carrier is transferred, and the transfer unit has an intermediate transfer body for transferring the transferred developer image to the recording medium. Image forming device. The third aspect of the present invention, wherein the transfer unit has a recording medium transporting member that transports the recording medium in order to directly transfer the developer image formed on the image carrier to the recording medium. Image forming device. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the image carrier is an electrophotographic photosensitive member. Any of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the moving direction between the detachable position and the movable position of the tray is a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the cartridge mounted on the tray. The image forming apparatus according to one item. The cartridge has a drive connecting portion to which a driving force is transmitted from the drive transmitting member on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge, and has the feeding contact portion on the other end side.
The apparatus main body has an urging means for urging the drive transmission member with respect to the drive connecting portion when the main body door is positioned at the closed position.
As the drive transmission member moves from the separated position to the connecting position, the cartridge is moved from the side where the drive connecting portion is provided to the side where the feeding contact portion is provided by the urging means. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the image forming apparatus is used. According to any one of claims 1 to 8 , the direction in which the pressing member presses the cartridge is a direction orthogonal to the connecting direction of the drive transmission member and the contact direction of the power feeding member. The image forming apparatus according to the description. The image according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a plurality of the cartridges can be placed side by side in the moving direction between the detachable position and the movable position. Forming device. The tray is characterized in that it can be linearly moved horizontally, diagonally upwardly, or diagonally downward with respect to the installation surface of the apparatus main body between the detachable position and the movable position. Item 2. The image forming apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 10. The tray, the at detaching position, can be supported taking out the cartridge upward, and any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the support by moving the cartridge downward The image forming apparatus according to. Claims 1 to 12 are characterized in that the cartridge is a process cartridge including an image carrier on which a latent image is formed and a developing means for developing the latent image formed on the image carrier with a developer. The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above. The cartridge is a separable process cartridge including an image carrier on which a latent image is formed and an image forming process means other than a developing means for developing the latent image formed on the image carrier with a developer. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13. The cartridge is a developing means for developing a latent image formed on an image carrier on which a latent image is formed with a developing agent, and a developing agent accommodating unit for accommodating a developing agent used for developing the latent image. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the developing cartridge has the above. The cartridge is a separable process cartridge including an image carrier on which a latent image is formed and an image forming process means other than a developing means for developing the latent image formed on the image carrier with a developing agent. It is a combination of a developing means for developing a latent image formed on the image carrier with a developing agent and a developing cartridge having a developing agent accommodating portion for accommodating a developing agent used for developing the latent image. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15 , characterized in that.