JP6311965B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile machine, and a copying machine.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge, which is an image forming unit in which an image carrier, a developing unit, and the like are integrally supported, is detachable from an apparatus main body by opening an opening / closing cover with respect to the apparatus main body. It has been known.

  In the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the process cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body by inserting the process cartridge into an installation space in the apparatus main body where the opening / closing cover is opened and exposed to the apparatus main body. Further, the process cartridge is removed from the apparatus main body by pulling out the process cartridge from the installation space.

  In addition, the process cartridge mounted on the apparatus main body is pressed from the top by the pressing means, and the positioned portion provided on the process cartridge is brought into contact with the positioning section provided on the apparatus main body, so that the apparatus main body is The process cartridge is positioned.

  When the process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, the main body side electrical contact provided below the process cartridge comes into contact with the cartridge side electrical contact provided on the bottom surface of the process cartridge. Thus, the apparatus main body and the process cartridge are electrically connected, and power can be supplied from the apparatus main body to the process cartridge.

  However, when the process cartridge is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body, if the main body side electrical contact and the cartridge side electrical contact rub against each other, it becomes a resistance and the operability of the process cartridge attaching / detaching operation deteriorates.

  In the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, in association with the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing cover, the image forming apparatus can move between a contact position that can contact the cartridge-side electrical contact and a retracted position that does not contact the cartridge-side electrical contact. Is provided with a main body side electrical contact. When the process cartridge is attached to or detached from the apparatus main body, the opening / closing cover is opened with respect to the apparatus main body, whereby the main body side electrical contact moves from the contact position to the retracted position.

  Thus, the process cartridge can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body without causing the main body side electrical contact and the cartridge side electric contact to rub against each other, and the operability of the process cartridge attaching and detaching operation can be improved.

  However, when the main body side electrical contact and the cartridge side electric contact are in contact with each other, the cartridge side electric contact is pressed by the main body side electric contact so that a stable electric connection can be secured with a predetermined contact pressure. Takes force to be pushed from bottom to top.

  Accordingly, the process cartridge mounted on the apparatus main body is applied with two forces from different directions: a force for pressing the process cartridge for positioning, and a force for pressing the cartridge side contact by the main body side electrical contact. . Therefore, a large force is applied to the process cartridge, which causes a problem that the process cartridge is deformed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to perform positioning and stable electrical connection between the apparatus main body and the image forming unit while suppressing deformation of the image forming unit. An image forming apparatus is provided.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is provided with an opening / closing cover that can be opened and closed with respect to the apparatus body, and detachable with respect to the apparatus body with the opening / closing cover open. An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit having a positioned portion that comes into contact with a positioning portion, and a connecting unit that electrically connects the apparatus main body and the image forming unit, and is held by the apparatus main body so as to be linearly movable. A linear movement member; and a conversion means for converting a rotational force when the opening / closing cover is opened and closed into a linear movement force of the linear movement member. A main body side electrical contact provided in the apparatus main body, provided in the imaging unit. The unit-side electrical contacts, and the body-side electrical contacts and the unit-side electrical contacts can be connected to each other by contacting the body-side electrical contacts and the unit-side electrical contacts. The connection means has an electrical contact coupling member movable in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing cover, and has a first gear portion concentric with a rotation fulcrum of the opening / closing cover on the opening / closing cover, The linear movement member has a second gear portion extending in the same direction as the moving direction, and meshes with the third gear portion provided on the side plate of the apparatus main body so as to mesh with the first gear portion, and the second gear portion. A fourth gear portion provided on the side plate in the conversion means, the rotational force when the opening and closing cover is opened and closed is a gear connection between the first gear portion and the third gear portion, and As the opening / closing cover moves from the open position to the closed position, the conversion means transmits the opening / closing cover through the gear connection between the second gear section and the fourth gear section. The linear movement of the linear movement member By this conversion, the linear movement member presses the electrical contact connecting member, and the electrical contact connecting member is not contacted with at least the unit side electrical contact in accordance with the pressing. By moving to a second position that contacts the contact and the unit-side electrical contact and pressing the image forming unit via the unit-side electrical contact, the positioned portion is positioned by the positioning portion, and the open / close cover As the actuator moves from the closed position to the opened position, the conversion means converts the rotational force of the opening / closing cover into the linear movement force of the linear movement member, and the electric contact by the linear movement member is accompanied with this conversion. When the pressing on the connecting member is released, the electrical contact connecting member moves from the second position to the first position, and the third gear portion is more than the side plate. It is located on the image forming unit side, and the fourth gear portion is located coaxially with the third gear portion, and is located on the opposite side of the third gear portion across the side plate. And when the electrical contact connecting member is located on the side opposite to the image forming unit across the side plate when in the first position, the electrical contact connecting member is provided on the side plate when in the second position. It is exposed to the image forming unit side through the opening.

  As described above, according to the present invention, there is an excellent effect that positioning and stable electrical connection can be performed between the apparatus main body and the image forming unit while suppressing deformation of the image forming unit.

(A) Sectional view in a state where the contact connecting member is in the first position retracted to the outside of the side plate, (b) Second position where the contact connecting member protrudes from the side plate and is electrically connected to the process cartridge. Sectional drawing in a state in. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer according to an embodiment. FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a printer with a process cartridge cover and a toner cartridge cover opened, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the printer with a toner cartridge cover opened. (A) The perspective view of a process cartridge, (b) The figure explaining the contact position of a process cartridge. (A) The figure which showed the state which the contact connection member is located in the 1st position retracted | saved outside the side plate, (b) The contact connection member is located in the 2nd position where the front-end | tip protrudes from the contact connection member protrusion hole of a side plate. The figure which showed the state. The figure explaining the structure of a contact connection member. The figure explaining the component structure in the outer side of a side plate. (A) The figure which showed the state before attaching a slider to a board | substrate holding member, (b) The figure which showed the state which attached the slider to the board | substrate holding member. (A) The figure explaining the interlocking | linkage structure of the process cartridge cover and slider located in an open position, (b) The figure explaining the interlocking | linkage structure of the process cartridge cover and slider located in a closed position, (c) Slider drive gear The figure which showed the holding | maintenance form. (A) The perspective view which showed the positional relationship of the contact connection member and slider in the state in which the process cartridge cover is open, (b) The contact connection member and slider in the state in which the process cartridge cover is open The top view which showed positional relationship, (c) The perspective view which showed the positional relationship of the contact connection member and slider in the state in which the process cartridge cover was closed, (d) The contact in the state in which the process cartridge cover was closed The top view which showed the positional relationship of a connection member and a slider. The figure explaining the mechanism of contact connecting member evacuation. (A) Explanatory drawing of the retreat space required when the contact connecting member is moved straightly and retracted from the second position to the first position, (b) The contact connecting member is rotated around the rotation axis. Explanatory drawing of the evacuation space required when it evacuates from a 2nd position to a 1st position. The figure explaining the position of the process cartridge cover when the retracting of the contact connecting member is completed.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an electrophotographic color printer (hereinafter simply referred to as a printer) 1 will be described as an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

  First, the basic configuration of the printer 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the printer 1 according to the embodiment. In this figure, the printer 1 includes process cartridges 6K and 6C which are four image forming units for forming toner images of black, cyan, magenta and yellow (hereinafter referred to as K, C, M and Y). , 6M, 6Y.

  These use different colors of K, C, M, and Y toners as image forming substances, but otherwise have the same configuration and are replaced when the lifetime is reached.

  A process cartridge 6K for forming a K toner image will be described as an example. As shown in FIG. 2, the process cartridge 6K includes a drum-shaped photosensitive member 7K as an image carrier, a drum cleaning device 3K, a charge eliminating device (not shown), a charging device 4K, and a writing head 2K as a latent image forming unit. And a developing device 5K.

  The process cartridge 6K can be attached to and detached from the printer main body, and consumable parts provided in the process cartridge 6K can be replaced at a time.

  Note that the drum cleaning device 3K, the charging device 4K, and the developing device 5K do not have to be integrally supported by the process cartridge 6. That is, a configuration in which at least one device selected from the drum cleaning device 3 </ b> K, the charging device 4 </ b> K, and the developing device 5 </ b> K is integrally supported as the process cartridge 6 together with the photoconductor 7 can be employed.

  The charging device 4K collects the charging roller 4aK rotating in the counterclockwise direction in the drawing while being in contact with the photoconductor 7K rotated in the clockwise direction in the drawing by driving means (not shown), and the toner attached to the charging roller 4aK. And a collection roller 4bK. Then, by generating a discharge between the charging roller 4aK and the photoconductor 7K, the surface of the photoconductor 7K is uniformly charged.

  The writing head 2K has a plurality of light emitting elements such as LEDs and organic EL elements arranged in the axial direction of the photoreceptor 7K. The writing head 2K emits a light emitting element at a predetermined position based on the image information and irradiates the photoconductor 7K to expose the photoconductor 7K, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image for K on the photoconductor 7K. .

  The developing device 5K is supplied with a developing roller 5aK to which a developing bias that rotates while being in contact with the photosensitive member 7K is applied, and a bias that supplies a developer made of toner or the like contained in the case to the developing roller 5aK. A supply roller 5bK and the like are provided. Then, the toner in the developer carried on the surface of the developing roller 5aK is made to be electrostatically charged for K on the surface of the photosensitive member by an electric field formed in a developing region which is a contact portion between the developing roller 5aK and the photosensitive member 7K. Adhere to the latent image. By this adhesion, the electrostatic latent image for K is developed into a K toner image. Then, a K toner image is intermediately transferred from the photoreceptor 7K onto an intermediate transfer belt 44 described later.

  The drum cleaning device 3K removes transfer residual toner adhering to the surface of the photoreceptor after the intermediate transfer process.

  The static eliminator neutralizes residual charges on the photoreceptor 7K after being cleaned by the drum cleaning device 3K. By this charge removal, the surface of the photoconductor 7K is initialized and prepared for the next image formation.

  The process cartridge 6K for K has been described so far, but the process cartridges 6C, 6M, and 6Y for C, M, and Y also perform C, M, and C on the photoreceptors 7C, 7M, and 7Y by the same process. A Y toner image is formed.

  Below the process cartridges 6K, 6C, 6M, and 6Y, a transfer unit 40 is disposed as a transfer unit that rotates an endless intermediate transfer belt 44 in a counterclockwise direction while stretching. In addition to the intermediate transfer belt 44, the transfer unit 40 includes a driving roller 41, a driven roller 42, four primary transfer rollers 43K, 43C, 43M, and 43Y, a secondary transfer roller 45, a belt cleaning device 46, a cleaning backup roller 47, and the like. It has.

  The intermediate transfer belt 44 is rotatably stretched by a driving roller 41, a driven roller 42, a cleaning backup roller 47, and four primary transfer rollers 43K, 43C, 43M, and 43Y disposed inside the loop. Then, it is rotated in the same direction by the rotational force of the driving roller 41 that is driven to rotate counterclockwise in the figure by a driving means (not shown).

  The four primary transfer rollers 43K, 43C, 43M, and 43Y sandwich the intermediate transfer belt 44 that is moved endlessly in this manner between the photoreceptors 7K, 7C, 7M, and 7Y. By this sandwiching, primary transfer nips for K, C, M, and Y where the front surface of the intermediate transfer belt 44 and the photoreceptors 7K, 7C, 7M, and 7Y abut are formed.

  A primary transfer bias is applied to the primary transfer rollers 43K, 43C, 43M, and 43Y by a transfer bias power source (not shown). As a result, a transfer electric field is formed between the electrostatic latent images on the photoreceptors 7K, 7C, 7M, and 7Y and the primary transfer rollers 43K, 43C, 43M, and 43Y. Instead of the primary transfer rollers 43K, 43C, 43M, and 43Y, a transfer charger, a transfer brush, or the like may be employed.

  When the Y toner formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 7Y of the process cartridge 6Y for Y enters the above-described primary transfer nip for Y as the photoreceptor 7Y rotates, the photoreceptor is affected by the transfer electric field and the nip pressure. 7Y is primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 44.

  The intermediate transfer belt 44 on which the Y toner image is primarily transferred in this way passes over the primary transfer nips for C, M, and Y along with the endless movement thereof, so that the image on the photoreceptors 7C, 7M, and 7Y is transferred. The C, M, and Y toner images are primarily transferred onto the Y toner image by sequentially overlapping them. A four-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 44 by the primary transfer of the superposition.

  The secondary transfer roller 45 of the transfer unit 40 is disposed outside the loop of the intermediate transfer belt 44, and the intermediate transfer belt 44 is sandwiched between the drive roller 41 inside the loop. By this sandwiching, a secondary transfer nip where the front surface of the intermediate transfer belt 44 and the secondary transfer roller 45 abut is formed.

  A secondary transfer bias is applied to the secondary transfer roller 45 by a transfer bias power source (not shown). By this application, a secondary transfer electric field is formed between the secondary transfer roller 45 and the drive roller 41 connected to the ground.

  Below the transfer unit 40, a paper feed cassette 50 that accommodates a plurality of recording papers P in a bundle of sheets is detachably disposed on the housing of the printer 1. In the paper feed cassette 50, a paper feed roller 50a is brought into contact with the uppermost recording paper P of the paper bundle, and the recording paper is rotated by rotating it in a counterclockwise direction in the drawing at a predetermined timing. P is sent out toward the paper feed path 51.

  A pair of registration rollers (not shown) is disposed near the end of the paper feed path 51. The recording paper P delivered from the paper feed cassette 50 by the rotation of the paper feed roller 50a is abutted against the nip of the stopped pair of registration rollers, and the rotation of the paper feed roller 50a is stopped with a predetermined amount of slack. Let Then, the sandwiched recording paper P is rotated at a timing that can be synchronized with the four-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 44 in the secondary transfer nip, and the recording paper P is sent out toward the secondary transfer nip.

  The four-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 44 brought into close contact with the recording paper P at the secondary transfer nip is batch-transferred onto the recording paper P under the influence of the secondary transfer electric field and nip pressure, and the recording paper Combined with the white color of P, a full color toner image is obtained.

  The recording paper P having the full-color toner image formed on the surface in this way is separated from the secondary transfer roller 45 and the intermediate transfer belt 44 by the curvature when passing through the secondary transfer nip. Then, it passes through a post-transfer conveyance path 52 and is sent to a fixing device 60 described later.

  Untransferred toner that has not been transferred to the recording paper P adheres to the intermediate transfer belt 44 after passing through the secondary transfer nip. This is cleaned from the belt surface by a belt cleaning device 46 in contact with the front surface of the intermediate transfer belt 44. A cleaning backup roller 47 disposed inside the loop of the intermediate transfer belt 44 backs up the cleaning of the belt by the belt cleaning device 46 from the inside of the loop.

  The fixing device 60 forms a fixing nip with a fixing roller 60a containing a heat source such as a halogen lamp (not shown) and a pressure roller 60b that rotates while contacting the roller with a predetermined pressure.

  The recording paper P fed into the fixing device 60 is sandwiched between the fixing nips so that the unfixed toner image carrying surface is in close contact with the fixing roller 60a. Then, the toner in the toner image is softened by the influence of heating and pressurization, and the full color image is fixed.

  After the recording paper P discharged from the fixing device 60 passes through the post-fixing conveyance path 53, the recording paper P is sandwiched between the post-fixing conveyance path 53 and the rollers of the paper discharge roller pair 54. The recording paper P sandwiched between the paper discharge roller pair 54 is discharged to the outside of the apparatus and stacked on the stack portion that is the upper surface of the toner cartridge cover 17 of the housing.

  Further, the printer 1 is provided with a process cartridge cover 16 for holding each toner cartridge 8 and a toner cartridge cover 17 so as to be rotatable about a rotation fulcrum 12.

  When the toner cartridge 8 is replaced, as shown in FIG. 3B, by opening the toner cartridge cover 17, the upper part of the housing is opened widely, and each toner cartridge 8 arranged inside the housing is Exposed. In this manner, the toner cartridge 8 can be attached to and detached from the printer 1 with the toner cartridge cover 17 being opened with respect to the housing.

  On the other hand, when the process cartridge 6 is replaced, as shown in FIG. 3A, in addition to the toner cartridge cover 17, the process cartridge cover 16 is opened so that the process cartridge 6K disposed inside the casing is opened. , 6C, 6M, 6Y are exposed.

  In this manner, the process cartridge 6 can be attached to and detached from the printer 1 with the process cartridge cover 16 and the toner cartridge cover 17 being opened with respect to the housing.

  As a result, the process cartridge 6 and the toner cartridge 8 can be replaced, and the maintainability of the photoconductor 7 and the developing device 5 provided in the process cartridge 6 can be improved.

  FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the process cartridge 6. FIG. 4B is a diagram for explaining the electrical contact position of the process cartridge.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the process cartridge 6 has a recess 100 on a side surface perpendicular to the photosensitive member axis 70, and as shown in FIG. 4B, the cartridge electrical contact 101 is a recess. 100 is provided inside.

  The cartridge electrical contact 101 is electrically connected to the charging roller 4a, the developing roller 5a, the supply roller 5b, and the like inside the process cartridge 6. Then, electricity is supplied from the printer body to the charging roller 4a, the developing roller 5a, the supply roller 5b, and the like via the cartridge electrical contact 101. The cartridge electrical contact 101 includes an elastic portion 111 having elasticity and a fixing portion 112. The elastic portion 111 is provided so as to be exposed to the outside of the process cartridge from the recessed portion 100, and the fixing portion 112 is provided inside the process cartridge 6. It is fixed.

  In this example, the cartridge electrical contact 101 is used for supplying electricity to the charging roller 4a, the developing roller 5a, the supply roller 5b, and the like. However, as an electrical contact for detecting the presence or absence of the process cartridge 6 or detecting a new product. May be used.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the position of the electrical contact connecting member 23 in the printer body. Specifically, FIG. 5A is a diagram showing a state where the electrical contact connecting member 23 is located at the first position retracted to the outside of the side plate 18. FIG. 5B is a view showing a state where the electrical contact connecting member 23 is located at the second position where the tip protrudes from the electrical contact connecting member protruding hole 21 of the side plate 18.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the side plate 18 of the printer 1 has guide grooves 19K, 19C, 19M, and 19Y for guiding the photoreceptor shaft 70, cartridge positioning portions 20K, 20C, 20M, and 20Y, and electric contact connecting member protrusions. Holes 21K, 21C, 21M, and 21Y are provided.

  When the process cartridge cover 16 shown in FIG. 3A is opened, the electrical contact connecting member 23 is positioned at the first position retracted to the outside of the side plate 18 as shown in FIG. doing.

  When the process cartridge 6 is attached to the printer 1, the photosensitive member shaft 70 of the process cartridge 6 shown in FIG. 4 is guided by the guide groove 19 of the side plate 18 until the photosensitive member shaft 70 abuts against the cartridge positioning unit 20. insert.

  By closing the process cartridge cover 16, the tip of the electric contact connecting member 23 protrudes from the electric contact connecting member protruding hole 21 of the side plate 18 in conjunction with the operation of the process cartridge cover 16 as shown in FIG. The electrical contact connecting member 23 moves to the second position. Thus, the cartridge electrical contact 101 of the process cartridge 6 shown in FIG. 4 and the electrical contact connecting member 23 are in contact with each other.

  In this configuration, when the process cartridge cover 16 is at the open position, the electrical contact connecting member 23 is retracted from the insertion / extraction locus of the process cartridge 6. Therefore, the electrical contact connecting member 23 does not hinder attachment / detachment of the process cartridge 6.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the electrical contact connecting member 23.
The electrical contact connecting member 23 is held in the printer main body by the rotating shafts 24 provided on both side surfaces. A connecting electrode 102 is attached to the electrical contact connecting member 23, and one end of the connecting electrode 102 is provided with a plate spring-like connecting electrode elastic portion 103 having elasticity.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a component configuration outside the side plate 18. FIG. 8A is a diagram showing a state before the slider 25 is attached to the substrate holding member 29. FIG. 8B is a diagram showing a state in which the slider 25 is attached to the substrate holding member 29.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a substrate holding member 29 is attached to the outside of the side plate 18. The board holding member 29 holds the electric contact connecting members 23K, 23C, 23M, and 23Y, the slider 25, the board 33, and the main body electric contact springs 104K, 104C, 104M, and 104Y.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, the slider 25 inserts the slider holding portion 31 of the substrate holding member 29 into the rail portion 26 of the slider 25, so that the slider 25 moves on the substrate holding member 29 as shown in FIG. It is configured to be movable in the direction of the arrow in the figure.

  FIG. 9A is a view for explaining an interlocking structure between the process cartridge cover 16 and the slider 25 located at the open position. FIG. 9B is a view for explaining an interlocking structure between the process cartridge cover 16 and the slider 25 located at the closed position. FIG. 9C is a view showing a connection state between the process cartridge cover 16 and the substrate holding member 29.

  FIG. 10A is a perspective view showing the positional relationship between the electrical contact connecting member 23 and the slider 25 in a state where the process cartridge cover 16 is opened. FIG. 10B is a plan view showing the positional relationship between the electrical contact connecting member 23 and the slider 25 in a state where the process cartridge cover 16 is opened.

  As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the process cartridge cover 16 is provided with a gear portion 162 concentrically with the rotation fulcrum 12. As shown in FIG. 9C, the slider drive gear 22 is rotatably held by the substrate holding member 29 and the side plate 18 and meshes with the gear portion 28 of the slider 25 and the gear portion 162 of the process cartridge cover 16. It has become.

  When the process cartridge cover 16 is gradually closed from the open position, the gear portion 162 of the process cartridge cover 16 and the slider drive gear 22 are engaged at a predetermined angle, and the slider drive gear 22 starts to rotate counterclockwise in the drawing.

  As the slider drive gear 22 rotates, the slider 25 meshed with the slider drive gear 22 and the gear portion 28 moves in the direction of the arrow in FIGS. 9A and 10A. At that time, the electrical contact connecting members 23K, 23C, 23M, and 23Y move from the first position toward the second position along the slope of the slider 25 as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 10C is a perspective view showing the positional relationship between the electrical contact connecting member 23 and the slider 25 in a state where the process cartridge cover 16 is closed. FIG. 10D is a plan view showing the positional relationship between the electrical contact connecting member 23 and the slider 25 when the process cartridge cover 16 is closed.

  As shown in FIG. 9 (b), when the process cartridge cover 16 reaches the closed position, the electrical contact connecting members 23K, 23C, 23M, and 23Y as shown in FIGS. 10 (c) and 10 (d). Is in contact with the connecting member pressing portions 27K, 27C, 27M, 27Y of the slider 25. Thereby, the electrical contact connecting members 23K, 23C, 23M, and 23Y are held at the second position.

  Of the slider drive gear 22 to which the printer main body and the process cartridges 6K, 6C, 6M, and 6Y are electrically connected, the portion on the process cartridge 6 side from the side plate 18 is more than the process cartridge contact surface of the side plate 18. Arranged outside. Thereby, the slider drive gear 22 does not become an obstacle when the process cartridge 6 is attached or detached.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a power supply path from the printer main body to the process cartridge 6. Specifically, FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view in a state where the electrical contact connecting member 23 is in a first position where it is retracted to the outside of the side plate 18. FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view in a state where the electrical contact connecting member 23 protrudes from the side plate 18 and is electrically connected to the process cartridge 6.

  In the process of moving the process cartridge cover 16 from the open state as shown in FIG. 3A to the closed position, the electrical contact connecting member 23 is moved from the position of FIG. Rotate to position (b).

  When the electrical contact connecting member 23 reaches the position of FIG. 1B, the elastic portion 111 of the cartridge electrical contact 101 is pushed down by the connecting electrode 102 attached to the electrical contact connecting member 23. As a result, a force F1 acts on the process cartridge 6 in the cartridge setting direction (downward in the figure).

  Further, when the electrical contact connecting member 23 is located at the position of FIG. 1B, the board electrical contact 105 and the body electrical contact spring 104 on the board 33 obtain an electrical contact pressure by the biasing force of the body electrical contact spring 104. Are electrically connected. Further, the connecting electrode 102 attached to the electric contact connecting member 23 and the main body electric contact spring 104 are electrically connected by obtaining a contact pressure by the urging force of the connecting electrode elastic portion 103.

  Further, the cartridge electrical contact 101 and the connecting electrode 102 are electrically connected by obtaining a contact pressure by an urging force from the elastic portion 111 of the cartridge electrical contact 101.

  With such a configuration, electricity supplied from the substrate 33 is supplied from the substrate electrical contact 105 via the main body electrical contact spring 104, the connecting electrode 102, and the cartridge electrical contact 101 to the charging roller 4a provided on the process cartridge 6. The toner is supplied to the developing roller 5a and the supply roller 5b.

  Further, as a reaction force of the urging force from the elastic portion 111 of the cartridge electrical contact 101, a force F1 that the cartridge electrical contact 101 receives from the connection electrode 102 acts in the cartridge setting direction (downward direction in the figure). Therefore, the biasing force for obtaining the contact pressure can be used as it is as the biasing force for positioning the photosensitive member shaft 70 of the process cartridge 6 on the cartridge positioning portion 20 (see FIG. 5) of the side plate 18.

  With this configuration, the force applied to the process cartridge 6 can be minimized, and the case can be prevented from being deformed due to excessive force applied to the case of the process cartridge 6.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a retracting mechanism for the electrical contact connecting member 23. As shown in FIG. 11A, when the electric contact connecting member 23 is in the second position, the electric contact connecting member 23 receives a force F2 received from the elastic portion 111 and a force F3 received from the connecting electrode elastic portion 103. As a result, a moment M1 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG.

  In the state where the process cartridge cover 16 is in the closed position as shown in FIG. 3B, the force F4 that cancels the moment M1 from the connecting member pressing portion 27 of the slider 25 acts on the electric contact connecting member 23. The posture of the connecting member 23 is maintained.

  When the process cartridge cover 16 moves from the closed position to the open position, the slider 25 moves, and the force F4 received from the connecting member pressing portion 27 disappears. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 11B, the electrical contact connecting member 23 rotates counterclockwise in the drawing around the rotation shaft 24 by the moment M1.

  In this way, when the electrical contact connecting member 23 rotates by a predetermined angle from the second position to the first position, the elastic portion 111 of the cartridge electrical contact 101 and the connection electrode 102 are separated from each other. The force F2 received from the elastic part 111 disappears.

  On the other hand, the connection electrode elastic part 103 and the main body electric contact spring 104 are always in contact with each other. Therefore, the electrical contact coupling member 23 rotates and moves to the first position shown in FIG. 11B by the moment M2 due to the force F3 received by the electrical contact coupling member 23 from the coupling electrode elastic portion 103.

  FIG. 12A is an explanatory diagram of a retreat space required when the electrical contact connecting member 23 is moved straightly and retreated from the second position to the first position. FIG. 12B is an explanatory diagram of a retreat space required when the electrical contact connecting member 23 is rotationally moved around the rotation shaft 24 and retreated from the second position to the first position.

  As shown in FIG. 12 (b), when the electrical contact connecting member 23 is rotated from the second position to the first position and retracted around the rotating shaft 24, the rotating shaft extends from the tip of the electrical contact connecting member 23. The slider 25 is arranged in a space between 24. As a result, when the electrical contact connecting member 23 is rotated and moved around the rotary shaft 24, the electrical contact connecting member 23 is moved away from the retracted space L1 when the electrical contact connecting member 23 is moved straightly and retracted. The necessary evacuation space L2 can be reduced.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the position of the process cartridge cover 16 when the retracting of the electrical contact connecting member 23 is completed.

  The process cartridge cover 16 is opened from the closed position, and when the electrical contact connecting members 23K, 23C, 23M, and 23Y have been retracted from the second position to the first position, the opening angle of the process cartridge cover 16 is As shown in FIG. Therefore, no opening is formed on the upper surface of the printer 1, and the process cartridges 6K, 6C, 6M, and 6Y cannot be removed from the printer 1.

  When the process cartridge cover 16 is opened from this state until the process cartridges 6K, 6C, 6M, and 6Y can be taken out, the electrical contact connecting member 23 has already been retracted.

  Therefore, when the process cartridge cover 16 is not completely opened and an opening that allows the process cartridge 6 to be taken out is formed on the upper surface of the printer 1, the electric contact connecting member 23 is caught when the process cartridge 6 is removed. It is not.

What has been described above is merely an example, and the present invention has a specific effect for each of the following modes.
(Aspect A)
An opening / closing cover such as a process cartridge cover 16 provided so as to be openable / closable with respect to the apparatus main body, and a positioning of a cartridge positioning unit 20 provided on the apparatus main body which can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body with the opening / closing cover open. In an image forming apparatus comprising an image forming unit such as a process cartridge 6 having a positioned portion such as a photoreceptor shaft 70 that abuts the image forming unit, and connection means for electrically connecting the apparatus main body and the image forming unit. Means include a main body side electric contact such as a main body electric contact spring 104 provided in the apparatus main body, a cartridge electric contact 101 provided in the image forming unit, a unit side electric contact of the d, a main body side electric contact and a unit side electric contact. Linkable with the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing cover that can contact each contact and connects the electrical contact on the main unit side and the electrical contact on the unit side And an electric contact connecting member such as an electric contact connecting member 23 that is movable, and the electric contact connecting member is at least a unit-side electric contact when the open / close cover is in an open position with respect to the apparatus main body. It is located at the first position where it does not contact, and it is located at the second position where it comes into contact with the main body side electrical contact and the unit side electric contact when the open / close cover is in the closed position closed with respect to the device body. When the member is positioned at the second position, the electric contact connecting member presses the image forming unit via the unit-side electric contact, so that the positioned portion comes into contact with the positioning portion.
In (Aspect A), the electrical contact coupling member can be connected by the electrical contact coupling member with a stable electrical connection between the main body side electrical contact and the unit side electrical contact by the force that the electrical contact coupling member presses the unit side electrical contact. A positioning part is brought into contact with the positioning part. As a result, the force that the main body side electrical contact presses the unit side contact is also used as the force that presses the image forming unit for positioning, and the force is applied to the image forming unit in the same direction. Therefore, the force applied to the process cartridge is more than the case where the force that presses the image forming unit for positioning and the force that the electric contact connecting member presses the unit-side electric contact is applied to the process cartridge from different directions. Can be reduced. Accordingly, positioning and stable electrical connection can be performed between the apparatus main body and the image forming unit while suppressing deformation of the process cartridge.
(Aspect B)
In (Aspect A), the apparatus main body includes a linear movement member that is held so as to be linearly movable, and a conversion unit that converts a rotational force when the opening / closing cover is opened and closed into a linear movement force of the linear movement member, When the open / close cover moves from the open position to the closed position, the converting means converts the rotational force of the open / close cover into the linear moving force of the linear moving member, and the linear moving member moves the electric contact connecting member. By pressing, the electrical contact connecting member moves from the first position to the second position, and when the open / close cover moves from the closed position to the open position, the converting means generates a rotational force of the open / close cover. When the linear moving member is converted into a linear moving force and the pressing of the linear moving member to the electric contact connecting member is released, the electric contact connecting member is moved from the second position to the first position. Moving. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the linear contact member is used for the movement of the electrical contact connecting member, so that the electrical contact connecting member can be moved to the first position even in a configuration in which a plurality of electrical contact connecting members are arranged. And the second position.
(Aspect C)
In (Aspect B), the opening / closing cover has a first gear portion concentric with the rotation fulcrum of the opening / closing cover, and the linear moving member extends in the same direction as the moving direction of the linear moving member. And the conversion means includes a third gear portion that meshes with the first gear portion and a fourth gear portion that meshes with the second gear portion, and the rotational force when the opening and closing cover is opened and closed, The first gear part and the third gear part are transmitted to the linearly moving member via a gear connection between the first gear part and the third gear part and a gear connection between the second gear part and the fourth gear part. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the rotational force of the opening / closing cover can be reliably converted into the linear moving force of the linear moving member.
(Aspect D)
(Aspect C) In the first position, the electrical contact connecting member is located on the side opposite to the image forming unit across the side plate provided in the apparatus main body, and provided in the side plate in the second position. The electrical contact connecting member is exposed to the image forming unit side from the formed opening, the third gear portion and the fourth gear portion are provided coaxially, and the third gear portion is formed more than the side plate. The fourth gear part is located on the image unit side, and the fourth gear part is located on the opposite side of the third gear part across the side plate. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the gear portion of the opening / closing cover inside the side plate and the gear portion of the linear moving member outside the side plate can be driven and connected.
(Aspect E)
In (Aspect D), the third gear portion is located at a position farther from the image forming unit than the contact surface of the side plate with the image forming unit. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, it is possible to suppress the third gear portion from interfering with the attaching / detaching operation of the image forming unit.
(Aspect F)
In (Aspect A), (Aspect B), (Aspect C), (Aspect D) or (Aspect E), the electrical contact connecting member is held rotatably with respect to the apparatus main body. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the space required for the movement of the electrical contact connecting member from the second position to the first position can be reduced.
(Aspect G)
In (Aspect A), (Aspect B), (Aspect C), (Aspect D), (Aspect E) or (Aspect F), the unit-side electrical contact is provided in a recess provided on a side surface of the imaging unit. installed. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the space above the image forming unit can be effectively utilized.
(Aspect H)
In (Aspect A), (Aspect B), (Aspect C), (Aspect D), (Aspect E), (Aspect F) or (Aspect G), the electric contact connecting member includes the main body side electric contact and A connection electrode having an elastic portion for electrically connecting the unit-side electrical contacts is provided, and the connection electrode is moved when the electrical contact connection member moves from the second position to the first position. The elastic force generated when the elastic part of the main body and the main body side electrical contact come into contact with each other is used. According to this, as described in the embodiment, it is possible to move without adding a configuration for moving the electrical contact connecting member from the second position to the first position.
(Aspect I)
In (Aspect A), (Aspect B), (Aspect C), (Aspect D), (Aspect E), (Aspect F), (Aspect G) or (Aspect H), the opening angle of the opening / closing cover with respect to the apparatus main body However, the electrical contact connecting member is located at the first position when the image forming unit can be detached from the apparatus main body. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, even when the open / close cover is not completely opened, there is no possibility that the unit-side electrical contact is caught by the electrical contact connecting member when the image forming unit is removed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 2 Writing head 3 Drum cleaning apparatus 4 Charging apparatus 4a Charging roller 4b Collection roller 5 Developing apparatus 5a Developing roller 5b Supply roller 6 Process cartridge 7 Photoconductor 8 Toner cartridge 12 Rotation fulcrum 16 Process cartridge cover 17 Toner cartridge cover 18 Side plate DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 19 Guide groove 20 Cartridge positioning part 21 Contact connection member protrusion hole 22 Slider drive gear 23 Contact connection member 24 Rotating shaft 25 Slider 26 Rail part 27 Connection member press part 28 Gear part 29 Substrate holding member 31 Slider holding part 33 Substrate 40 Transfer unit 41 Drive roller 42 Driven roller 43 Primary transfer roller 44 Intermediate transfer belt 45 Secondary transfer roller 46 Belt cleaning device 47 Cleaning backup roller 50 Paper feed Set 50a Paper feed roller 51 Paper feed path 52 Post-transfer conveyance path 53 Post-fixation conveyance path 54 Paper discharge roller pair 60 Fixing device 60a Fixing roller 60b Pressure roller 70 Photosensitive shaft 101 Cartridge contact 102 Connection electrode 103 Connection electrode elastic part 104 Main body contact spring 105 Substrate contact 111 Elastic portion 112 Fixed portion 162 Gear portion

JP 2010-102283 A

Claims (6)

An opening and closing cover that can be opened and closed with respect to the apparatus body;
An image forming unit that is detachable with respect to the apparatus main body in a state in which the opening / closing cover is opened, and has a positioned part that comes into contact with a positioning part provided in the apparatus main body;
In an image forming apparatus comprising a connecting means for electrically connecting the apparatus main body and the image forming unit,
A linearly movable member held in the apparatus main body so as to be linearly movable;
Conversion means for converting a rotational force when the opening / closing cover is opened and closed into a linear moving force of the linear moving member;
A main body side electrical contact provided in the apparatus main body, a unit side electric contact provided in the image forming unit, and the main body side electric contact and the unit side electric contact. The connection means has an electrical contact coupling member that can be connected to a unit-side electrical contact and is movable in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing cover,
The opening / closing cover has a first gear portion concentric with the rotation fulcrum of the opening / closing cover,
The linear movement member has a second gear portion extending in the same direction as the movement direction of the linear movement member,
The conversion means has a third gear portion provided on the side plate of the apparatus main body so as to mesh with the first gear portion, and a fourth gear portion provided on the side plate so as to mesh with the second gear portion,
When the opening / closing cover opens and closes, the rotational force passes through the gear connection between the first gear part and the third gear part, and the gear connection between the second gear part and the fourth gear part. Transmitted to the moving member,
As the opening / closing cover moves from the open position to the closed position, the conversion means converts the rotational force of the opening / closing cover into the linear movement force of the linear movement member, and this conversion causes the linear movement member to move to the electric movement. The contact connecting member is pressed, and with this pressing, the electrical contact connecting member moves from a first position where it does not contact at least the unit side electrical contact to a second position where it contacts the body side electrical contact and the unit side electrical contact. By moving and pressing the image forming unit via the unit-side electrical contact, the positioned portion is positioned on the positioning portion,
As the opening / closing cover moves from the closed position to the opening position, the converting means converts the rotational force of the opening / closing cover into the linear moving force of the linear moving member, and along with this conversion, the linear moving member When the pressure on the electrical contact connecting member is released, the electrical contact connecting member moves from the second position to the first position,
The third gear portion is positioned closer to the image forming unit than the side plate;
The fourth gear part is positioned on the opposite side of the third gear part across the side plate while being positioned coaxially with the third gear part,
In addition, when the electrical contact connecting member is located at the first position, the electrical contact connecting member is located on the opposite side of the image forming unit with the side plate interposed therebetween, and when the electrical contact coupling member is located at the second position, the opening is provided in the side plate. An image forming apparatus that is exposed to the image forming unit side. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third gear portion is located at a position farther from the image forming unit than a contact surface of the side plate with the image forming unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the electrical contact connecting member is rotatably held with respect to the apparatus main body. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3.
An image forming apparatus, wherein the unit-side electrical contact is installed in a recess provided on a side surface of the image forming unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4.
The electrical contact coupling member is provided with a coupling electrode having an elastic portion for electrically connecting the main body side electrical contact and the unit side electrical contact,
When the electric contact connecting member moves from the second position to the first position, an elastic force generated when the elastic portion of the connecting electrode comes into contact with the main body side electric contact is used. Forming equipment. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.
The image forming apparatus, wherein the electrical contact connecting member is located at the first position when an opening angle of the opening / closing cover with respect to the apparatus main body is an angle at which the image forming unit can be detached from the apparatus main body. apparatus.

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