JP6265668B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which a storage container for storing a consumable member such as toner is detachably attached.

  In this type of image forming apparatus, it is necessary to replace a storage container for storing a consumable member such as toner. For example, in Patent Document 1, a cover provided on the front surface of the image forming apparatus is opened to form an opening on the front surface of the apparatus, and a toner cartridge is attached to and detached from the apparatus through the opening. Further, the recording paper feeding unit is disposed below the apparatus so as not to interfere with the toner cartridge, thereby simplifying the toner cartridge replacement operation.

JP 2005-173171 A

  By the way, examples of the storage container that is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus include a toner cartridge that stores toner supplied to the image forming apparatus, and a waste toner box that stores waste toner collected by the image forming apparatus. is there. The former toner cartridge is small, and the opening of the apparatus main body for attaching and detaching the toner cartridge may be small. Further, the latter waste toner box is larger than the toner cartridge, and it is necessary to enlarge the opening of the apparatus main body for the attachment / detachment. Further, in recent years, although the image forming apparatus is downsized, the toner consumption does not change and the waste toner box is not downsized. Therefore, an opening for attaching / detaching the waste toner box is provided in the apparatus main body. It is larger than that.

  On the other hand, since the toner cartridge is frequently replaced, it is preferable that the toner cartridge can be easily replaced by a general user. In addition, the waste toner box has a low replacement frequency, and it is necessary to avoid unnecessary attachment and detachment. For this reason, it is desirable to make the opening for replacement of the toner cartridge small, increase the opening for replacement of the waste toner box, and make a difference in the procedure of the replacement operation.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of changing the size of the opening according to various storage containers and making a difference in the procedure for replacing the storage containers. To do.

To solve the above problem, an image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus container is removably mounted to housing the consumable member, the restricting position and when it is accommodated in the image forming apparatus main body a non-regulated and movement restricting member moved in any position, the main body of the image forming apparatus is openably supported at a first fulcrum closing support portion when pulled out from the image forming apparatus main body, wherein and a cover which is openably and closably supported by the second supporting point with respect to the opening and closing support portion, the movement restriction member is the non-restriction first fulcrum of rotation of the opening and closing support portion in a state of being moved to the position While the movement restricting member is moved to the restricting position, the opening / closing support portion is restricted from turning around the first fulcrum, and the opening / closing cover is turned around the second fulcrum. Configuration to allow Is, first the storage vessel, the second said cover to pivot around is detachable through the first opening formed by being opened, the second receiving container is larger than the first of said container , the opening and closing support portion and the open-close cover is worn de through the second opening is larger than the first opening an opening portion formed by being open to the first fulcrum.

In such an image forming apparatus of the present invention, the opening / closing support portion is supported to be freely opened and closed at the first fulcrum with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, and is opened and closed around the first fulcrum by the movement restricting member moved to the restricting position. It is possible to open and close around the first fulcrum in a state where the movement regulating member is moved to the non-regulating position. The open / close cover is supported by the second support point so as to be openable and closable with respect to the open / close support portion. For this reason, when the movement restricting member is moved to the restricting position, even if the opening / closing cover is opened / closed, the opening / closing support portion is not opened / closed, and the opening / closing cover can be opened to form a small opening. The small storage container can be attached and detached through this small opening. Further, when the movement restricting member is moved to the non-restricted position, both the opening / closing support portion and the opening / closing cover can be opened to form a large opening, and a large storage container can be attached / detached through the large opening. it can. Further, when the movement restricting member is moved to the restricting position, only the opening / closing cover can be opened and closed, and if the movement restricting member is not moved from the restricting position to the non-regulating position, the opening / closing support portion and the opening / closing cover are both Since it cannot be opened and closed, it is possible to make a difference in the procedure of the exchange operation between the small storage container and the large storage container.

In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the opening / closing support portion is opened / closed, the opening / closing of the opening / closing cover around the second fulcrum is restricted, and the opening / closing of the opening / closing cover is restricted by the movement restricting member. In the state, a lock member is provided that enables opening and closing of the opening and closing cover around the second fulcrum.

Such a lock member restricts the opening / closing of the opening / closing cover around the second fulcrum when the opening / closing support portion is opened / closed, so that the opening / closing cover is integrally opened / closed together with the opening / closing support portion. Opening and closing operations are simplified. Further, the lock member can open and close only the open / close cover in order to allow the open / close cover around the second fulcrum to be opened and closed in a state where the opening and closing support portion is restricted by the movement restricting member.

  For example, the lock member is a ball plunger that is provided on one of the opening / closing support part and the opening / closing cover and engages the other.

In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the first storage container is a toner cartridge that stores toner supplied to the image forming apparatus, and the opening / closing cover is opened around the second fulcrum. It is attached and detached through the first opening formed by the above .

  Since the toner cartridge is smaller than the waste toner box and frequently exchanged, it is preferable to attach and detach the toner cartridge through a small opening formed by opening the opening / closing cover.

Furthermore, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the second storage container is a waste toner box that stores the waste toner collected by the image forming apparatus, and the opening / closing support portion and the second support container are arranged around the first fulcrum. The opening / closing cover is attached / detached through the second opening formed by opening.

  The waste toner box is larger than the toner cartridge, is less frequently replaced, and needs to avoid unnecessary attachment / detachment. Therefore, after the movement restricting member is moved from the restricted position to the unrestricted position, the opening / closing support portion and It is desirable to open and close the open / close cover together and attach / detach through the large opening formed thereby.

In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the movement restricting member is a paper feed cassette that houses recording paper supplied to the image forming apparatus, and the paper feed cassette is housed in the main body of the image forming apparatus. It is moved to the regulating position Te is moved by being pulled out from the image forming apparatus main body in the non-restriction position.

  The paper feed cassette is suitable as a movement restricting member because it is put in and out of the image forming apparatus main body when recording paper is replenished.

In the present invention, the open / close support portion is supported to be freely opened and closed at the first fulcrum with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, and the opening and closing around the first fulcrum is restricted by the movement restricting member moved to the restricting position. It is possible to open and close around the first fulcrum in a state where it has been moved to the non-regulatory position. The open / close cover is supported by the second support point so as to be openable and closable with respect to the open / close support portion. For this reason, when the movement restricting member is moved to the restricting position, even if the opening / closing cover is opened / closed, the opening / closing support portion is not opened / closed, and the opening / closing cover can be opened to form a small opening. The small storage container can be attached and detached through this small opening. Further, when the movement restricting member is moved to the non-restricted position, both the opening / closing support portion and the opening / closing cover can be opened to form a large opening, and a large storage container can be attached / detached through the large opening. it can. Further, when the movement restricting member is moved to the restricting position, only the opening / closing cover can be opened and closed, and if the movement restricting member is not moved from the restricting position to the non-regulating position, the opening / closing support portion and the opening / closing cover are both Since it cannot be opened and closed, it is possible to make a difference in the procedure of the exchange operation between the small storage container and the large storage container.

1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a paper feed cassette in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1 is removed and an opening / closing cover on the front surface of the image forming apparatus is opened. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the image forming apparatus in the state of FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a waste toner box removed in the state of FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a side view schematically showing an opening / closing support portion, an opening / closing cover, and a ball plunger constituting the opening / closing door of FIG. 3, showing a state in which the opening / closing support portion and the opening / closing cover are closed. FIG. 7 is a side view schematically showing a state in which opening of the opening / closing support part of FIG. 6 is restricted and an opening / closing cover is opened. It is a rear view which shows typically the state by which the opening-and-closing support part and opening-and-closing cover of FIG. 6 were closed. FIG. 4 is a side view schematically showing a state in which the paper feed cassette is pushed into the main body housing of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 4 is a side view schematically showing a state where a paper feed cassette is pulled out or pulled out and removed. It is a perspective view which shows 2nd Embodiment of the image forming apparatus of this invention. FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a paper feeding cassette in the third embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is removed and an opening / closing cover on the front surface of the image forming apparatus is opened. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the image forming apparatus in the state of FIG.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.

  The image forming apparatus 1 has a copying function of reading a document and printing it on a recording sheet, and includes an image reading device 2, a printing unit 4, a paper feed cassette 5, and the like. The image data handled in the image forming apparatus 1 corresponds to a color image using each color of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), or a single color (for example, black). This corresponds to the monochrome image used. For this reason, the printing unit 4 is provided with four developing devices 12, photosensitive drums 13, drum cleaning devices 14, and chargers 15 in order to form four types of toner images corresponding to the respective colors. Four image stations Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd are configured in association with black, cyan, magenta, and yellow.

  In each of the image stations Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd, after the residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum 13 is removed and collected by the drum cleaning device 14, the surface of the photosensitive drum 13 is set to a predetermined potential by the charger 15. It is charged uniformly, the surface of the photosensitive drum 13 is exposed by the optical scanning device 11, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface, and the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 13 is developed by the developing device 12, A toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 13. As a result, a toner image of each color is formed on the surface of each photosensitive drum 13.

  Subsequently, while the intermediate transfer belt 21 is moved in the direction of the arrow C, the residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 21 is removed and collected by the belt cleaning device 25, and then each color toner image is transferred onto the surface of each photosensitive drum 13. The toner images are sequentially transferred onto the belt 21 and overlapped to form a color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 21.

  A nip area is formed between the intermediate transfer belt 21 and the transfer roller 26a of the secondary transfer device 26. The intermediate transfer is performed while the recording paper conveyed through the paper conveyance path R1 is sandwiched and conveyed in the nip area. The color toner image on the surface of the belt 21 is transferred onto the recording paper. Then, the recording paper is sandwiched between the heating roller 31 and the pressure roller 32 of the fixing device 17 and heated and pressed to fix the color toner image on the recording paper.

  On the other hand, the recording sheet is pulled out from the sheet feeding cassette 5 by the pickup roller 33 and conveyed through the sheet conveying path R 1, via the secondary transfer device 26 and the fixing device 17, and discharged from the sheet discharge roller 36. To 39. In this paper conveyance path R1, after the recording paper is temporarily stopped and the leading ends of the recording paper are aligned, the color toner image is transferred in the nip area between the intermediate transfer belt 21 and the transfer roller 26a. A registration roller 34 for starting the conveyance of the recording paper, each conveyance roller 35 for urging the conveyance of the recording paper, a paper discharge roller 36, and the like are arranged.

  When printing not only on the front side of the recording paper but also on the back side, the recording paper is conveyed in the reverse direction from the paper discharge roller 36 to the reverse path Rr, so that the front and back sides of the recording paper are reversed and the recording paper is registered. The image is guided again to the roller 34, and the image is recorded and fixed on the back surface of the recording paper, similarly to the front surface of the recording paper, and the recording paper is carried out to the paper discharge tray 39.

  Incidentally, a toner cartridge and a waste toner box are detachably attached to the image forming apparatus 1. A toner cartridge is provided in each of the image stations Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd. These toner cartridges contain black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) toners, respectively, from each toner cartridge to each image station Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd. Each color toner is supplied to the developing device 12, and the electrostatic latent image on the surface of each photosensitive drum 13 is developed by these developing devices 12.

  The waste toner box is a single one. In this waste toner box, residual toner collected from the surface of each photosensitive drum 13 by the drum cleaning device 14 of each image station Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd, and collected from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 21 by the belt cleaning device 25. Residual toner is conveyed and stored.

  The toner cartridge is smaller than the waste toner box and is frequently replaced. In addition, the waste toner box is larger than the toner cartridge, has a low replacement frequency, and needs to avoid unnecessary attachment / detachment.

  For this reason, in the first embodiment, as the opening / closing door 40 on the front surface of the image forming apparatus 1, a pair of opening / closing support portions 41 (shown in FIGS. 3 to 10) disposed on both sides of the opening / closing door 40 and each opening / closing support portion. A combination of the opening / closing cover 42 supported by 41 is applied. When the toner cartridge is replaced, only the opening / closing cover 42 is opened to form a small opening on the front surface of the image forming apparatus 1, and this small opening The toner cartridge can be attached and detached. When the waste toner box is replaced, the opening / closing support portions 41 and the opening / closing cover 42 are both opened to form a large opening on the front surface of the image forming apparatus 1, and the waste toner box is attached / detached through the large opening. To be able to.

  Further, the opening / closing cover 42 can be opened / closed by operating only the opening / closing cover 42. Each opening / closing support portion 41 can be opened / closed by operating the opening / closing cover 42 after the sheet feeding cassette 5 is pulled out. Thus, the operation procedure for exchanging the waste toner box is made more complicated than the operation procedure for exchanging the toner cartridge, so that unnecessary attachment and detachment is prevented.

  In addition, when each opening / closing support portion 41 is opened and closed, the opening / closing cover 42 is integrally opened / closed together with each opening / closing support portion 41 so that the opening / closing operation of each opening / closing support portion 41 and the opening / closing cover 42 is simplified. It has been.

  Next, the toner cartridge and the waste toner box that are detachably attached to the image forming apparatus 1 will be described in detail.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the paper feeding cassette 5 is detached from the image forming apparatus 1 and the opening / closing door 40 on the front surface of the image forming apparatus 1 is opened. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the image forming apparatus 1 in the state of FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the waste toner box removed in the state of FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, when the paper feed cassette 5 is pulled out or pulled out and removed, the open / close support portions 41 and the open / close cover 42 can be integrally opened together to form an image. Four toner cartridges 52 and one waste toner box 53 attached to the inside of the main body casing 51 of the apparatus 1 are exposed.

  A base 54 is provided at the bottom of the main body casing 51. A frame (not shown) is constructed on the base 54, and the optical scanning device 11, the image stations Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd, the intermediate transfer belt 21, the belt cleaning device 25, the fixing device 17, and paper are formed by this frame. The conveyance path R1, each roller, and the like are supported.

  A waste toner box 53 is placed on the base 54, and a guide member (not shown) for guiding the waste toner box 53 in the loading / unloading direction A is provided. The waste toner box 53 has five waste toner receiving ports 53a, and receives the waste toners conveyed from the four drum cleaning devices 14 and the belt cleaning device 25 through the respective waste toner receiving ports 53a. Store.

  Further, each toner cartridge 52 is disposed above the waste toner box 53 and is guided in the loading / unloading direction by a respective guide member (not shown). Each of the toner cartridges 52 may be configured to be detached and replaced alone, or may be integrated with the developing device 12 and the photosensitive drum 13 so as to be attached and detached together with the developing device 12 and the photosensitive drum 13. The configuration may be replaced.

  A paper feed cassette 5 is supported on the lower side of the base 54 so that it can be taken in and out in the direction A. Guide rails (not shown) are provided at both ends of the base 54, and both ends of the paper feed cassette 5 are guided by the guide rails so that the paper feed cassette 5 can be taken in and out. ing. When the recording paper is replenished, the paper feed cassette 5 is pulled out while being guided by each guide rail or pulled out and removed, and the paper feed cassette 5 is replenished with recording paper. The paper feed cassette 5 is inserted between the guide rails, guided by the guide rails, pushed into the main body housing 51, and disposed below the optical scanning device 11.

  Each open / close support portion 41 is rotatably supported by a respective first fulcrum shaft 61 provided on both sides of the base 54. The open / close cover 42 is rotatably supported by respective second fulcrum shafts 62 (shown in FIGS. 6 to 10) provided in the open / close support portions 41. Accordingly, each opening / closing support portion 41 is supported by the first fulcrum shaft 61 with respect to the base 54, and the opening / closing cover 42 is supported by each second fulcrum shaft 62 with respect to each opening / closing support portion 41. Yes.

  FIG. 6 is a side view schematically showing the opening / closing support part 41 and the opening / closing cover 42, and shows a state in which the opening / closing support part 41 and the opening / closing cover 42 are closed. FIG. 7 is a side view schematically showing a state in which the opening / closing cover 42 is opened. FIG. 8 is a rear view schematically showing a state in which the opening / closing support portion 41 and the opening / closing cover 42 are closed.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the opening / closing support portion 41 has a U-shaped main body 41a and an arm portion 41c protruding from one end portion 41b of the U-shaped main body 41a. The lower end piece 41d of 41a is rotatably supported by the first fulcrum shaft 61 on the base 54 side, and the other end portion of the U-shaped body 41a is bent at a right angle to form the contact portion 41e, and the upper end portion of the arm portion 41c. A recess 41f is formed on the inside.

  Further, both side portions of the opening / closing cover 42 are rotatably supported by second fulcrum shafts 62 of one end portions 41b of the respective opening / closing support portions 41 provided on both sides of the base 54.

  Moreover, each protrusion part 42a is formed in the both sides of the inner wall of the opening / closing cover 42, and each ball plunger 64 is embedded in the outer end surface of each protrusion part 42a. Each ball plunger 64 has a spring and a ball 64a urged by the spring, and the ball 64a is urged outwardly on both sides of the opening / closing cover 42 by the spring to protrude. The protruding amount is limited, and the ball 64a is held so that the ball 64a does not come off.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the opening / closing cover 42 is closed, the balls 64 a of the ball plungers 64 on the opening / closing cover 42 side are fitted into the recesses 41 f of the arm portions 41 c of the opening / closing support portions 41. The support portion 41 and the opening / closing cover 42 are integrally held with each other. When the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing cover 42 is performed in a state where the opening / closing of each opening / closing support portion 41 is not restricted, the opening / closing cover 42 does not rotate around the second fulcrum shaft 62, and the opening / closing cover 42 is supported by each opening / closing support. It rotates around the first fulcrum shaft 61 together with the portion 41. Therefore, each opening / closing support part 41 and the opening / closing cover 42 can be opened / closed only by opening / closing the opening / closing cover 42.

Further, in a state where the rotation of each opening / closing support portion 41 around the first fulcrum shaft 61 is restricted, that is, in a state where opening of each opening / closing support portion 41 is prohibited, an operation of opening the opening / closing cover 42 is performed as shown in FIG. Once done, cover 42 is rotated at a second pivot shaft 62 around, inside the ball 64a of the ball plungers 64 of the cover 42 side against the biasing force of the spring of each of the ball plungers 64 It is pushed in and is removed from the recess 41f of the arm portion 41c of each opening / closing support portion 41, and only the opening / closing cover 42 is opened.

Subsequently, when an operation for closing the opening / closing cover 42 is performed, the opening / closing cover 42 rotates around the second fulcrum shaft 62, and when the opening / closing cover 42 is closed, the balls of the ball plungers 64 on the opening / closing cover 42 side. 64a fits again into the recess 41f of the arm part 41c of each opening / closing support part 41, and each opening / closing support part 41 and the opening / closing cover 42 are held together again.

  Next, an opening / closing operation of each opening / closing support part 41 and the opening / closing cover 42 and an attaching / detaching operation of the toner cartridge 52 and the waste toner box 53 will be described.

FIG. 9 is a side view schematically showing a state in which the paper feed cassette 5 is pushed into the main body casing 51. As shown in FIG. 9, in a state where the paper feed cassette 5 is pushed in, the front panel 5a of the paper feed cassette 5 comes into contact with the contact portion 41e of each opening / closing support portion 41, and each opening / closing support portion 41 is supported by the front panel 5a. The rotation in the direction of the arrow around the first fulcrum shaft 61 is restricted, and the opening of each open / close support portion 41 is prohibited. Therefore, even if the opening / closing cover 42 is opened, the opening / closing support portions 41 are not opened, and the balls 64a of the ball plungers 64 on the opening / closing cover 42 side are recessed 41f of the arm portions 41c of the opening / closing support portions 41. The opening / closing cover 42 rotates around the second fulcrum shaft 62, and only the opening / closing cover 42 is opened.

  When the opening / closing cover 42 is opened, a small opening is formed on the front surface of the image forming apparatus 1, so that each toner cartridge 52 can be attached and detached and replaced through the small opening.

Thereafter, when an operation for closing the opening / closing cover 42 is performed, the opening / closing cover 42 rotates around the second fulcrum shaft 62, and when the opening / closing cover 42 is closed, the balls of the ball plungers 64 on the opening / closing cover 42 side. 64a fits again into the recess 41f of the arm portion 41c of each opening / closing support portion 41, and each opening / closing support portion 41 and the opening / closing cover 42 are held together again.

FIG. 10 is a side view schematically showing a state in which the paper feed cassette 5 is pulled out or pulled out and removed. As shown in FIG. 10, when the paper feed cassette 5 is pulled out or pulled out and removed, the front panel 5a of the paper feed cassette 5 is separated from the contact portion 41e of each open / close support portion 41, and each open / close is opened. An open space for the support portion 41 is formed. At this time, the balls 64a of the ball plungers 64 on the opening / closing cover 42 side are fitted into the recesses 41f of the arm portions 41c of the opening / closing support portions 41, and the opening / closing support portions 41 and the opening / closing cover 42 are integrally held with each other. Has been. Therefore, when the opening / closing cover 42 is opened, the opening / closing cover 42 does not rotate around the second fulcrum shaft 62, and the opening / closing cover 42 rotates around the first fulcrum shaft 61 together with the respective opening / closing support portions 41, Each opening / closing support part 41 and the opening / closing cover 42 are both opened.

  When each opening / closing support portion 41 and the opening / closing cover 42 are opened, a large opening is formed in the front surface of the image forming apparatus 1, so that the waste toner box 53 can be attached / detached and replaced through the large opening.

Thereafter, when the opening / closing cover 42 is closed, the balls 64a of the ball plungers 64 on the opening / closing cover 42 side are fitted in the recesses 41f of the arm portions 41c of the opening / closing support portions 41. The opening / closing support part 41 and the opening / closing cover 42 rotate together around the first fulcrum shaft 61, and each opening / closing support part 41 and the opening / closing cover 42 are closed. Further, the paper feed cassette 5 is pushed into the main body casing 51, the front panel 5a of the paper feed cassette 5 comes into contact with the contact portions 41e of the respective open / close support portions 41, and the open / close support portions 41 by the front panel 5a. The rotation around the first fulcrum shaft 61 is restricted, and the opening of each opening / closing support portion 41 is prohibited.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, when the operation of opening the opening / closing cover 42 is performed in a state where the sheet feeding cassette 5 is pushed in, only the opening / closing cover 42 is opened, and a small opening is formed on the front surface of the image forming apparatus 1. Each toner cartridge 52 can be attached and detached and exchanged through this small opening.

  Further, when the opening / closing cover 42 is opened in the state in which the sheet feeding cassette 5 is pulled out or pulled out, the opening / closing support portion 41 and the opening / closing cover 42 are both opened to open the image forming apparatus. A large opening is formed on the front surface of 1, and the waste toner box 53 can be attached and detached through the large opening for replacement. Further, in order to replace the waste toner box 53, an operation for inserting and removing the paper feed cassette 5 and an operation for opening / closing each of the opening / closing support portions 41 and the opening / closing cover 42 are required, which is more complicated than the operation procedure for replacing the toner cartridge 52. Further, unnecessary attachment / detachment of the waste toner box 53 can be prevented. Further, since the open / close cover 42 is integrally opened / closed together with the open / close support portions 41, there is no need to open / close each open / close support portion 41 and open / close cover 42 individually, and the open / close operation of each open / close support portion 41 and open / close cover 42 is performed. Is simple.

  FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. In the image forming apparatus 1A of the second embodiment, the paper feed cassette 5 is supported so as to be able to be put in and taken out in the loading / unloading direction B. The loading / unloading direction B is 90 ° with respect to the loading / unloading direction A of the paper feeding cassette 5 in the first embodiment. Different. For this reason, even if the paper feed cassette 5 is pushed in, the front panel 5a of the paper feed cassette 5 does not come into contact with the contact portions 41e of the open / close support portions 41 as shown in FIG.

Therefore, in the second embodiment, an auxiliary opening / closing cover 71 is provided below the opening / closing cover 42 as shown in FIG. The auxiliary opening / closing cover 71 has a lower end side rotatably supported by the main body housing of the image forming apparatus 1 </ b> A, and can open / close the auxiliary opening / closing cover 71 in the arrow direction D. In the state where the auxiliary opening / closing cover 71 is closed as shown in FIG. The rotation in the direction of the arrow around the fulcrum shaft 61 is restricted, and the opening of each open / close support portion 41 is prohibited. Therefore, even if the opening / closing cover 42 is opened, the opening / closing support portions 41 are not opened, and the balls 64a of the ball plungers 64 on the opening / closing cover 42 side are recessed 41f of the arm portions 41c of the opening / closing support portions 41. And the opening / closing cover 42 rotates around the second fulcrum shaft 62, and only the opening / closing cover 42 is opened to form a small opening.

When the opening / closing cover 42 is closed, the opening / closing cover 42 rotates around the second fulcrum shaft 62 and is closed.

In addition, when the auxiliary opening / closing cover 71 is opened, the auxiliary opening / closing cover 71 is separated from the contact portion 41 e of each opening / closing support portion 41. Therefore, when the opening / closing cover 42 is opened, the opening / closing cover 42 does not rotate around the second fulcrum shaft 62, and the opening / closing cover 42 rotates around the first fulcrum shaft 61 together with the respective opening / closing support portions 41, Each open / close support portion 41 and open / close cover 42 are both opened to form a large opening.

When the opening / closing cover 42 is closed, the opening / closing support portions 41 and the opening / closing cover 42 rotate together around the first fulcrum shaft 61, and the opening / closing support portions 41 and the opening / closing cover 42 are closed.

  FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a state in which the paper feed cassette in the third embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is removed and the opening / closing cover on the front surface of the image forming apparatus is opened. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the image forming apparatus in the state shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the image forming apparatus of the second embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the image forming apparatus 1 of the first embodiment, but a plurality of springs 55 are provided on the front outer wall of the waste toner box 53. The difference is that it was added. When the open / close cover 42 is closed, the springs 55 on the front outer wall of the waste toner box 53 are sandwiched between the open / close cover 42 and the front outer wall of the waste toner box 53 to be compressed. Therefore, when the opening / closing cover 42 is opened, the opening / closing cover 42 is quickly opened alone or together with each opening / closing support portion 41 by the biasing force of each spring 55.

  When the open / close cover 42 is closed alone or together with the open / close support portions 41, the springs 55 on the front outer wall of the waste toner box 53 are sandwiched between the open / close cover 42 and the front outer wall of the waste toner box 53. And compressed again.

  In the above embodiment, a toner cartridge and a waste toner box are illustrated, but the present invention may be applied to other types of storage containers.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment and modification of this invention were described referring an accompanying drawing, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to the example which concerns. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. It is understood.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Image reading device 4 Printing part 5 Paper feed cassette 11 Optical scanning device 12 Developing device 13 Photosensitive drum 14 Drum cleaning device 15 Charger 17 Fixing device 21 Intermediate transfer belt 25 Belt cleaning device 26 Secondary transfer device 40 Open / close door 41 Open / close support portion 42 Open / close cover 51 Main body housing 52 Toner cartridge 53 Waste toner box 54 Base 61 First fulcrum shaft (first fulcrum)
62 2nd fulcrum shaft (2nd fulcrum)
63 Arm 64 Ball plunger (locking member)

Claims (6)

An image forming apparatus in which a storage container for storing a consumable member is detachably attached,
A movement restricting member that is moved to either a restricting position when accommodated in the image forming apparatus main body or a non-regulating position when pulled out from the image forming apparatus main body ;
An opening / closing support portion supported to be freely opened and closed at a first fulcrum with respect to the image forming apparatus main body;
An opening / closing cover supported to be freely opened and closed at a second fulcrum with respect to the opening / closing support portion ;
With
When the movement restricting member is moved to the non-restricted position, the opening / closing support portion is allowed to rotate about the first fulcrum, while when the movement restricting member is moved to the restricting position, the opening / closing support is allowed. And a configuration that restricts rotation of the opening and closing cover around the second fulcrum, and restricts rotation of the opening and closing cover around the second fulcrum.
The first storage container is attached and detached through a first opening formed by opening the opening / closing cover around the second fulcrum, and the second storage container larger than the first storage container is: and wherein the opening and closing support portion and the open-close cover is through a second opening larger than said first opening an opening portion formed to be worn de by opening the first fulcrum Image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
When the opening / closing support portion is opened / closed, the opening / closing of the opening / closing cover around the second fulcrum is restricted, and when the opening / closing cover is restricted by the movement restricting member, the opening / closing cover around the second fulcrum is restricted. An image forming apparatus comprising a lock member that can be opened and closed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lock member is a ball plunger that is provided on one of the opening / closing support part and the opening / closing cover and engages the other. An image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
The first storage container is a toner cartridge that stores toner supplied to the image forming apparatus, and is attached and detached through the first opening formed by opening the opening / closing cover around the second fulcrum. An image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
The second storage container is a waste toner box that stores the waste toner collected by the image forming apparatus, and is formed by opening the opening / closing support portion and the opening / closing cover around the first fulcrum . An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus is attached and detached through the second opening. An image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein
The movement restricting member is a paper feed cassette that stores recording paper supplied to the image forming apparatus,
The paper feed cassette is moved to the regulating position is accommodated in the image forming apparatus main body, an image forming apparatus characterized by being moved by being pulled out from the image forming apparatus main body in the non-restriction position.

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