JP6551093B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus in which opening and closing of a shutter of a developer supply port is interlocked with opening and closing of a cover.

JP, 2009-020375, A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which the detachment preparation operation of the image carrier is facilitated.

  The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 is provided in a main body of the apparatus, and includes a transfer member that sandwiches the transfer target together with the image holding member, and a separation mechanism that separates the transfer member from the image holding member. A transfer unit that transfers the developer image formed on the image carrier to the transfer target; a main body that is detachably attached to the apparatus main body and covers the image carrier and the transfer unit; and the main body A recovery port for recovering the developer in the unit; an opening / closing mechanism for opening / closing the recovery port; an operation unit provided in the main body unit for operating the opening / closing mechanism; and The separation mechanism and the opening / closing mechanism are connected to each other in the mounted state, and the closing operation for closing the recovery port of the opening / closing mechanism and the separation for separating the transfer member of the separation mechanism from the image carrier. Interlocking interlocking operation It includes a stage, a.

  The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the separation mechanism performs the separation operation by rotation of a first rotation shaft, and the opening / closing mechanism includes the collection mechanism. In the mounted state of the container, the closing operation is performed by the rotation of the second rotating shaft that is coaxial with the first rotating shaft, and the interlocking means is provided at one end of the first rotating shaft in the axial direction. The engaged portion and one end portion in the axial direction of the second rotating shaft are engaged with the engaged portion in the mounted state of the recovery container, and the rotational force of the second rotating shaft is An engaging portion that enables transmission to the first rotating shaft, and the operating portion is provided at the other end portion in the axial direction of the second rotating shaft, and applies a rotational force to the second rotating shaft by the operation. Do.

  The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the engaged portion protrudes outward in the axial direction of the first rotating shaft from the one end portion of the first rotating shaft. The engaging portion is a concave portion that is recessed from the one end portion of the second rotating shaft inward in the axial direction of the second rotating shaft, and into which the protruding portion is fitted, and around the protruding portion. An annular wall portion surrounding the convex portion is formed, and the protruding height of the wall portion is higher than that of the convex portion.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, the closing operation for closing the collection port of the opening / closing mechanism and the separating operation for separating the transfer member of the separating mechanism from the image holding member are performed by separate operations. In comparison, the image carrier can be easily detached.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the second aspect, the structure for transmitting the rotational force from the second rotating shaft to the first rotating shaft is simplified as compared with the configuration in which the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft are not coaxial. .

  According to the image forming apparatus of the third aspect, in the detached state of the collection container, it is possible to suppress erroneous operation of the separation mechanism as compared with the configuration in which the convex portion is exposed.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which a cover is opened. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 2, showing a state in which the collection container is removed. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the collection container of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front side, showing a state of attachment to a housing. It is the perspective view which looked at the collection container of FIG. 4 from the back side, and has shown the state which opened the collection port. It is a front view in the state which removed the front plate of the collection container of FIG. It is the perspective view which looked at the collection container of FIG. 4 from the back side, and has shown the state which closed the collection port. It is a front view in the state which removed the front plate of the collection container of FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which the separation mechanism of the transfer device and the opening and closing mechanism of the collection container are interlocked. It is the expansion perspective view which looked at the collection container from the back side which shows the convex part of the connection structure provided in the collection container side. It is the expansion perspective view which looked at the transfer apparatus from the front side of apparatus depth which shows the convex part of the connection structure provided in the transfer apparatus side. It is the side view seen from the apparatus width direction left side which shows the connection state of the convex part of the connection structure provided in the collection container side, and the convex part of the connection structure provided in the transfer apparatus side. FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the transfer device, showing an approach state in which the primary transfer roll is approached to the photosensitive member. FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the transfer device, showing a separated state in which the primary transfer roll is separated from the photosensitive member. It is an enlarged perspective view of the operating handle circumference which shows the state where the operating handle of the collection container was locked by the lock part of the cover. It is an expansion perspective view showing the crevice of the connection structure provided in the recovery container of the image forming device of a 2nd embodiment. FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view showing a projection of a connection structure provided in a transfer device of the image forming apparatus of the second embodiment.

  An image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

〔overall structure〕
First, an image forming apparatus 10 of the present embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image forming apparatus 10 has a casing 11 as an apparatus main body. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a photosensitive member 12 as an example of an image carrier, a charging device 14, an exposure device 16, a developing device 18, a control unit 20, and a transfer unit. As an example, a transfer device 22, a fixing device 24, a cleaning device 26, and a toner cartridge 28 are provided inside the housing 11. Further, the photosensitive body unit 30 is formed of the photosensitive body 12, the charging device 14, the exposure device 16 and the cleaning device 26, and the housing 31 of the photosensitive body unit 30 is detachably mounted to the housing 11. ing.

  In the following description, the image forming apparatus 10 is viewed from the side where a user (not shown) stands, and the apparatus width direction, the apparatus height direction, and the apparatus depth direction are described as an X direction, a Y direction, and a Z direction. . The X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction are orthogonal to each other. When it is necessary to distinguish one side from the other side in the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction, the image forming apparatus 10 is viewed from the front, the upper side is + Y side, the lower side is -Y side, and the right side is The + X side, the left side is described as −X side, the back side is described as + Z side, and the front side is described as −Z side. The Y direction is an example of a gravity direction. The X direction and the Z direction are examples of the horizontal direction.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a cover 32 is attached to the front of the housing 11 so as to rotate forward in the device depth direction. On the back side of the cover 32 in the device depth direction, a developer collection container 34 is detachably mounted to the housing 11.

  An operation handle 36 as an example of an operation unit is provided on a surface 34A of the collection container 34 (surface on the front side in the apparatus depth direction). By operating the operation handle 36, the recovery container 34 is unlocked from the housing 11, and the developer recovery port 40 is closed by an opening / closing mechanism 38 provided in the recovery container 34. Further, a primary transfer roll 48 (to be described later) of the transfer device 22 is separated from the photoreceptor 12 in conjunction with the operation of the operation handle 36. In other words, the transfer device 22 is retracted. Thereafter, the collection container 34 is detached from the housing 11 to expose the photoconductor units 30 corresponding to the respective colors mounted on the housing 11 to the outside (see FIG. 3). As a result, the photosensitive unit 30 can be accessed.

  Further, with the recovery container 34 detached, the operation lever 42 provided in the developing device 18 is operated to retract the operation lever 42 from the desorption path of the photosensitive unit 30. Thereafter, the photoreceptor unit 30 is detached from the housing 11 by pulling the photoreceptor unit 30 forward in the apparatus depth direction.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 will be described.
The operation of each part of the image forming apparatus 10 is controlled by the control unit 20. In the image forming apparatus 10, the developing device 18 develops the latent image of the photosensitive member 12 with the developer conveyed from the toner cartridge 28, whereby a toner image as an example of a developer image is formed. Further, in the image forming apparatus 10, after the transfer device 22 transfers the toner image to the recording medium P, the fixing device 24 fixes the toner image to the recording medium P.

  As an example, the developer includes toner as an example of negatively charged powder and an iron carrier as an example of a magnetic material charged to positive polarity, and further includes an additive. ing. As an example, the toner is made of a polyester resin.

[Configuration of main part]
Next, the transfer device 22, the collection container 34, and the connection structure 80 as an example of the interlocking means will be described in detail.

First, the transfer device 22 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 13, the transfer device 22 includes a side frame 46, a primary transfer roll 48 as an example of a transfer member, support arms 49 and 50, support rolls 52 and 53, and a backup roll 54. And an intermediate transfer belt 56 as an example of a transfer target, and a separation mechanism 44.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the side frames 46 are long members whose longitudinal direction is the apparatus width direction, and a pair of side frames 46 are arranged at intervals in the apparatus depth direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, a plurality of (four in this embodiment) primary transfer rolls 48 are attached to the side frame 46 via support arms 49 and 50. The primary transfer roll 48 is rotatably supported by support arms 49 and 50 with the apparatus depth direction as an axial direction. In the present embodiment, the primary transfer roll 48 positioned on the leftmost side of the side frame 46 in the apparatus width direction is supported by the support arm 49, and the remaining primary transfer roll 48 is supported by the support arm 50.

The support arms 49 and 50 are rotatably supported by a rotation shaft 51 extending between the pair of side frames 46. These support arms 49 and 50 rotatably support the primary transfer roll 48 on one free end 49A and 50A side, respectively. Further, the support arms 49 and 50 press the primary transfer roll 48 against the inner surface 56A of the intermediate transfer belt 56 by the elastic force of an elastic member (for example, a spring) not shown. Specifically, the support arms 49 and 50 are pushed by the elastic force of the elastic member in the direction in which the free ends 49A and 50A rotate clockwise about the respective rotation shafts 51.
Further, a projection 64 of a moving frame 58 to be described later is pressed against the other free end 50B side of the support arm 50.

  The support roll 52 is rotatably supported at one end (end on the left side in the apparatus width direction) of the side frame 46 in the longitudinal direction. The support roll 52 is also configured to function as a tension roll.

  The support roll 53 is rotatably supported on the other end (end on the right side in the apparatus width direction) of the side frame 46 in the longitudinal direction.

  The backup roll 54 is rotatably supported on one end (end on the left side in the apparatus width direction) of the side frame 46 in the longitudinal direction. The backup roll 54 is disposed to face the secondary transfer roll 57.

  The intermediate transfer belt 56 is wound around the support roll 52, the support roll 53, and the backup roll 54 with the primary transfer roll 48 inside. The intermediate transfer belt 56 is sandwiched between the backup roll 54 and the secondary transfer roll 57, and the developer image primarily transferred from the photoreceptor 12 to the surface is transferred between the intermediate transfer belt 56 and the secondary transfer roll 57. Secondary transfer is performed on the recording medium P passing between them.

  As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the separation mechanism 44 is a mechanism that separates the primary transfer roll 48 from the photoreceptor 12. The separation mechanism 44 includes a moving frame 58, a rotation shaft 60 as an example of a first rotation shaft, and a cam portion 62.

  The rotation shaft 60 is rotatably supported by the pair of side frames 46 with the device depth direction as an axial direction. The rotation shaft 60 is disposed inside the intermediate transfer belt 56 and between the support roll 52 and the primary transfer roll 48. An end portion 60A on the front side in the apparatus depth direction of the rotating shaft 60 passes through the side frame 46, and a convex portion 67 (see FIGS. 11 and 12) as an example of an engaging portion is formed on the end portion 60A. ing. The convex portion 67 protrudes outward in the axial direction of the rotation shaft 60 from the end portion 60A. The convex portions 67 have a fan shape when viewed from the axial direction of the rotation shaft 60, and a pair of points are formed symmetrically with respect to the center of the rotation shaft 60.

  As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the moving frame 58 is disposed on the right side in the apparatus width direction with respect to the rotating shaft 60. The moving frame 58 is attached to the inner wall of the side frame 46 so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the side frame 46 (device width direction). Specifically, a plurality of slits 59 extending in the apparatus width direction are formed in the moving frame 58, and pins 46A protruding from the inner walls of the side frames 46 are inserted into these slits 59, respectively. By this configuration, the movable frame 58 is movable in the device width direction with respect to the side frame 46. Further, the moving frame 58 of the present embodiment is pushed to the right in the apparatus width direction by an elastic member (not shown) (for example, a spring).

Also, a projection 64 for moving the primary transfer roll 48 away from the photosensitive member 12 on the inner wall surface 58A of the moving frame 58 by pushing the other free end 50B of the support arm 50 by the movement of the moving frame 58 to the left in the device width direction. Is formed. Specifically, the moving frame 58 is separated from the approach position (the position in FIG. 13 as an example) at which the primary transfer roll 48 approaches the photosensitive member 12 and the separation position on the left side in the apparatus width direction than the approach position (an example in FIG. 14) The projection 64 pushes the free end 50 B side of the support arm 50 by moving the support arm 50, and the support arm 50 rotates counterclockwise around the rotation axis 51. As a result, the primary transfer roll 48 is lifted from the inner surface 56 </ b> A of the intermediate transfer belt 56, and the primary transfer roll 48 is separated from the photoreceptor 12.
When the moving frame 58 is located at the approaching position, as shown in FIG. 13, the primary transfer roll 48 approaches the photosensitive member 12, and the intermediate transfer belt is formed by the primary transfer roll 48 and the photosensitive member 12. It is designed to sandwich 56. On the other hand, when the moving frame 58 is in the separated position, as shown in FIG. 14, the primary transfer roll 48 is separated from the photosensitive member 12 and the intermediate transfer belt 56 is also separated from the photosensitive member 12. It has become.

  A swinging member 66 is provided on the inner wall surface 58 </ b> A of the side frame 46 between the rotating shaft 60 and the moving frame 58. The swing member 66 is supported on the side frame 46 so as to be swingable with the depth direction of the apparatus as an axial direction. The swinging member 66 extends from a swinging shaft having the depth direction of the apparatus as an axial direction in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction, and branches from the extending portion 66A to be orthogonal to the axial direction of the swinging shaft. An extending portion 66B extending in the direction, and an engaging portion (not shown) that engages with an engaged portion (not shown) of the moving frame 58 to move the moving frame 58 to the left in the apparatus width direction. As shown in FIG. 14, when the extending portion 66A is pushed to the right in the apparatus width direction by the cam portion 62, which will be described later, the swinging member 66 swings about the swinging shaft, and the engaging portion is The movable frame 58 is engaged with the engaged portion of the moving frame 58 to move the moving frame 58 to the left in the apparatus width direction, and the extending portion 66B pushes the engaging portion 49B provided on the support arm 49. When the engaging portion 49B is pushed by the extending portion 66B, the free end 49A side of the support arm 49 is lifted around the rotation shaft 51, and the primary transfer roll 48 is separated from the photosensitive member 12. In other words, as shown in FIG. 14, when the cam portion 62 is rotated counterclockwise around the rotating shaft 60, the extending portion 66A of the swinging member 66 is pushed by the cam portion 62 and swings. The member 66 swings counterclockwise around the swinging axis, and the extending portion 66B of the swinging member 66 pushes the engaging portion 49B of the support arm 49 so that the primary transfer roll 48 moves from the inner surface 56A of the intermediate transfer belt 56. The primary transfer roll 48 is separated from the photosensitive member 12 by lifting.

  As shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, the cam portion 62 is provided on the rotation shaft 60 so as to protrude radially outward of the rotation shaft 60. When the cam portion 62 pushes the extending portion 66A of the swing member 66 to the right in the apparatus width direction, the engaging portion of the swing member 66 is engaged with the engaged portion of the moving frame 58, and the moving frame 58 is engaged. Is moved to the left in the device width direction. Specifically, the rotational force of the rotating shaft 60 is transmitted to the swinging member 66 through the cam portion 62, and the rotational force transmitted to the swinging member 66 is transmitted through the engaging portion and the engaged portion. It is converted into a moving force that moves the moving frame 58 in the apparatus width direction. As a result, the moving frame 58 moves to the left with respect to the side frame 46 in the device width direction.

Next, the collection container 34 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the recovery container 34 includes a main body 68, a recovery port 40, an opening / closing mechanism 38, and an operation handle 36.

  The main body 68 has a box shape and is configured to be able to collect the developer inside. The main body 68 is detachably attached to the housing 11, and covers the photoreceptor 12 and the transfer device 22 from the outside when attached to the housing 11. Note that the main body 68 of the present embodiment is provided with a lock mechanism 82 for maintaining the mounting state of the housing 11. The lock mechanism 82 is interlocked with the opening / closing mechanism 38 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 and operates in conjunction with the closing operation of closing the recovery port 40 by the opening / closing mechanism 38 by operating the operation handle 36. It is configured to release the lock of the attached state of the recovery container 34 (the main body 68) to the body 11.

  The recovery port 40 is a portion for recovering the developer, and is provided on the back surface 68B side of the main body portion 68. The collection port 40 according to the present embodiment collects the developer used in the developing device 18, the developer removed from the intermediate transfer belt 56, and the developer removed from the photoconductor 12. In the following, a recovery port for recovering the developer discharged from the discharge portion of the developing device 18 is denoted by reference numeral 40A, a recovery port for recovering the developer removed from the photoreceptor 12 by the cleaning device 26 is denoted by reference numeral 40B, A recovery port for recovering the developer removed from the intermediate transfer belt 56 by a belt cleaning member (not shown) is indicated by a symbol 40C.

  The opening and closing mechanism 38 is a mechanism for opening and closing the recovery port 40. The opening and closing mechanism 38 includes a moving frame 72, an opening and closing member 74, and a rotation shaft 76 as an example of a second rotation shaft.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the moving frame 72 is attached to the inner wall of the main body 68 so as to be movable in the device width direction with respect to the main body 68. Specifically, a plurality of slits 73 extending in the apparatus width direction are formed in the moving frame 72, and pins 69 protruding from the inner wall of the main body 68 are inserted into these slits 73. With this configuration, the movable frame 72 is movable in the device width direction with respect to the main body 68.

  The moving frame 72 is provided with a lock mechanism 82. The lock mechanism 82 includes a hook portion 84 that extends from the left end of the moving frame 72 in the apparatus width direction to the outside of the main body 68 (left side in FIG. 6), and the upper end of the moving frame 72 in the apparatus vertical direction. And a hook portion 85 extending outward (upper side in FIG. 6) of the portion 68. The hooks 84 and 85 move in the device width direction as the moving frame 72 moves in the device width direction. The hook portion 84 is hooked on a concave side hook portion (not shown) formed on the side surface of the opening portion 11 </ b> A of the housing 11. On the other hand, the hook portion 85 is hooked on a concave upper hook portion (not shown) formed on the ceiling surface of the opening portion 11 </ b> A of the housing 11. For this reason, the mounting state of the collection container 34 is locked by hooking the hooks 84 and 85 on the side hooks and the top hooks, respectively.

  The opening and closing member 74 opens and closes the recovery port 40 by the movement of the moving frame 72 with respect to the main body 68 in the apparatus width direction. In this embodiment, the opening / closing member 74A opens and closes the collection port 40A, the opening / closing member 74B opens and closes the collection port 40B, and the opening / closing member 74C opens and closes the collection port 40C. Specifically, the opening and closing member 74A moves in a direction (in the present embodiment, in the device depth direction) for opening and closing the recovery port 40A in conjunction with the movement of the movable frame 72 in the device width direction with respect to the main body 68. By moving to the front side in the device depth direction, the recovery port 40A is covered and the recovery port 40A is closed. The opening / closing member 74B is formed with a collection port 40B, and the opening / closing member 74B rotates in conjunction with the movement of the moving frame 72 relative to the main body 68 in the apparatus width direction. The opening and closing member 74B is rotationally moved to shift the position of the recovery port 40A and the position of the discharge port of the developer, thereby closing the recovery port 40A. Further, the opening / closing member 74C moves in a direction (in the present embodiment, the device width direction) for opening and closing the recovery port 40C in conjunction with the movement of the moving frame 72 in the device width direction. Block the recovery port 40C.

  These opening / closing members 74A, 74B, and 74C move the moving frame 72 to the collection position shown in FIG. 6 and the closed position shown in FIG. 8 on the right side in the apparatus width direction from the collection position. 40A, 40B, 40C can be switched from the open state to the closed state. Specifically, pinion teeth 75A that mesh with rack teeth 72A provided on the moving frame 72 are formed in the opening and closing member 74A, and the moving force of the moving frame 72 opens and closes via the rack teeth 72A and the pinion teeth 75A. The member 74A is converted into a moving force in the device depth direction in order to open and close the recovery port 40A. Similarly, in the opening and closing member 74B, pinion teeth 75B meshing with the rack teeth 72B provided on the moving frame 72 are formed, and the moving force of the moving frame 72 is opened and closed via the rack teeth 72A and the pinion teeth 75B. And is converted into a moving force for opening and closing the recovery port 40B. In addition, the opening / closing member 74C converts the moving force of the moving frame 72 into a moving force for opening and closing the collection port 40C by a mechanism (not shown) provided on the moving frame 72.

  The rotation shaft 76 is rotatably supported by the main body 68 with the device depth direction as an axial direction. The rotating shaft 76 is provided with a cam portion (not shown), and the rotating force of the rotating shaft 76 can be converted into a moving force of the moving frame 72 in the apparatus width direction via the cam portion. Further, an operation handle 36 is attached to an end of the rotary shaft 76 on the front side in the device depth direction. The operation handle 36 includes a disc portion 36A and a rib-like knob portion 36B that protrudes from the surface of the disc portion 36A and extends in the radial direction of the disc portion 36A. Further, the operation handle 36 is accommodated in a recess 68C provided on the surface 68A of the main body 68. On the other hand, a convex portion 78 as an example of an engaged portion is provided on the end portion 76A of the rotating shaft 76 on the back side in the apparatus depth direction (see FIGS. 5 and 7). As shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, the convex portion 78 protrudes from the end portion 76 </ b> A in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 76, and has a fan shape when viewed from the axial direction of the rotary shaft 76. Further, a pair of convex portions 78 are formed point-symmetrically with respect to the rotation shaft 76 when viewed from the axial direction of the rotation shaft 76. In a state where the collection container 34 is mounted on the housing 11, the convex portions 78 enter between the adjacent convex portions 67, and the pair of convex portions 67 and the pair of convex portions 78 are engaged with each other. The rotating shaft 60 and the rotating shaft 76 are connected by the convex portions 67 and the convex portions 78, and the rotational force of the rotating shaft 76 is transmitted to the rotating shaft 60 through the convex portions 67 and the convex portions 78. ing.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the position of the rotation shaft 60 in the transfer device 22 and the position of the collection container 34 so that the rotation shaft 60 and the rotation shaft 76 are coaxial with the collection container 34 mounted on the housing 11. The position of the rotation shaft 76 is set.

Next, the connection structure 80 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 12, the connecting structure 80 is a closing operation of closing the recovery port 40 of the opening / closing mechanism 38 by connecting the separating mechanism 44 and the opening / closing mechanism 38 in a state where the recovery container 34 is attached to the housing 11. And a separating operation for separating the primary transfer roll 48 of the separating mechanism 44 from the photosensitive member 12 in conjunction with each other. Specifically, the connection structure 80 is configured to include the convex portion 67 and the convex portion 78 described above. Here, when the operation handle 36 is rotated counterclockwise, the rotation shaft 76 is rotated by the operation force of the operation handle 36, and the open / close mechanism 38 operates to close the recovery port 40. Further, the rotational force of the rotating shaft 76 is transmitted to the rotating shaft 60 through the connecting structure 80, and the separating mechanism 44 operates to separate the primary transfer roll 48 from the photosensitive member 12.
On the other hand, when the operating handle 36 is rotated clockwise, the opening / closing mechanism 38 operates by the operating force of the operating handle 36 and the recovery port 40 is opened. At this time, the support arms 49 and 50 of the transfer device 22 are pushed by the elastic force of an elastic member (not shown) to make the respective primary transfer rolls 48 approach the respective photosensitive members 12. That is, the support arms 49 and 50 press the respective primary transfer rolls 48 against the respective photosensitive members 12 via the intermediate transfer belt 56.

Next, the lock portion 32A of the operation handle 36 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, on the back side of the cover 32, a lock portion 32 </ b> A protruding to the rear side in the device depth direction is provided. When the cover 32 is closed in a state where the recovery container 34 is attached to the housing 11 (a state where it is locked by the lock mechanism 82), the lock portion 32A, as shown in FIG. It fits in between the 68C. Therefore, in a state in which the recovery container 34 is not locked to the housing 11 by operating the operation handle 36, the lock portion 32A interferes with the knob portion 36B of the operation handle 36 and the cover 32 is not closed. That is, forgetting to operate the operation handle 36 is suppressed by the lock portion 32A.

Next, the operation and effect of the image forming apparatus 10 of the present embodiment will be described.
In the image forming apparatus 10, when the photoreceptor unit 30 including the photoreceptor 12 is detached, first, the cover 32 is opened and the operation handle 36 is rotated counterclockwise. By this operation, the rotating shaft 76 is rotated, and as the rotating shaft 76 rotates, the open / close mechanism 38 is closed to close the recovery port 40 (40A, 40B, 40C). Further, when the rotational force of the rotating shaft 76 is transmitted to the rotating shaft 60 through the connecting structure 80, the separating mechanism 44 moves away as the rotating shaft 60 rotates, and the primary transfer roll 48 separates from the photosensitive member 12. Be done. That is, the separation operation of the separation mechanism 44 is interlocked with the closing operation of the opening / closing mechanism 38. Furthermore, the lock mechanism 82 operates in conjunction with the closing operation of the opening / closing mechanism 38, and the locked state of the collection container 34 is released.
Then, by detaching the collection container 34 from the housing 11, it is possible to access the operation lever 42 for detaching the photoreceptor unit 30 (including the photoreceptor 12).

  Here, in the image forming apparatus 10, the primary transfer roll 48 for closing and closing the collection port 40 of the opening / closing mechanism 38 by the operation of rotating the operation handle 36 counterclockwise and the primary transfer roll 48 of the separation mechanism 44 with respect to the photoconductor 12. Since the separating operation can be performed, for example, the detachment preparation operation of the photoconductor unit 30 is facilitated as compared with the case where the closing operation and the separating operation are performed by separate operations.

  In the image forming apparatus 10, since the rotation shaft 76 and the rotation shaft 60 are coaxial in the mounted state of the collection container 34, for example, the rotation shaft 76 is compared with a configuration in which the rotation shaft 76 and the rotation shaft 60 are not coaxial. The structure for transmitting the rotational force from the shaft to the rotating shaft 60 is simplified. In addition, the rotational force transmission structure can be made compact.

Second Embodiment
Next, an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, about the structure same as 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the image forming apparatus 90 of the present embodiment has the same configuration as that of the image forming apparatus 10 of the first embodiment except for the configuration of the connection structure 92 and the wall portion 98.

  The connection structure 92 includes a convex portion 96 and a concave portion 94.

  The recess 94 is provided at the end 76 A of the rotating shaft 76, and is recessed forward in the apparatus depth direction along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 76. The concave portion 94 is formed in a groove shape extending linearly in a direction (radial direction) orthogonal to the axial direction of the rotation shaft 76, and the convex portion 96 is fitted in the mounted state in which the collection container 34 is mounted on the housing 11. It is supposed to be.

  The convex portion 96 is provided at the end portion 60 </ b> A of the rotating shaft 60 and protrudes toward the near side in the apparatus depth direction along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 60. The convex portion 96 extends linearly in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the rotating shaft 60, and fits into the concave portion 94 when the collection container 34 is attached to the housing 11.

  Further, an annular (in the present embodiment, annular) wall portion 98 is provided around the convex portion 96 so as to surround the convex portion 96. Specifically, the wall portion 98 protrudes from the outer wall surface of the side frame 46 to the near side in the apparatus depth direction, and surrounds the convex portion 96.

  Further, the protruding height of the wall portion 98 is higher than that of the convex portion 96. Specifically, the protruding height along the apparatus depth direction from the outer wall surface of the side frame 46 of the wall portion 98 is higher than the protruding height along the apparatus depth direction of the convex portion 96 from the outer wall surface of the side frame 46. It is high. In other words, the front end of the wall 98 is located on the near side of the front end of the protrusion 96 in the device depth direction.

  Next, functions and effects of the image forming apparatus 90 of this embodiment will be described. In addition, the description is abbreviate | omitted about the effect obtained by the structure similar to 1st Embodiment.

  In the image forming apparatus 90, the protruding height of the wall portion 98 is higher than that of the convex portion 96. In the detached state in which the container 34 is detached from the housing 11, it is difficult to access the convex portion 96. For this reason, it is prevented that the rotating shaft 60 is rotated by an erroneous operation. That is, the erroneous operation of the separation mechanism 44 of the transfer device 22 is prevented.

  In 1st Embodiment and 2nd Embodiment, although the rotating shaft 60 and the rotating shaft 76 are arrange | positioned coaxially, this invention is not limited to this structure. For example, the central axis of the rotating shaft 60 and the central axis of the rotating shaft 76 may be offset. In this case, for example, a gear provided around the rotary shaft 60 and a gear provided around the rotary shaft 76 may be meshed to transmit the rotational force of the rotary shaft 76 to the rotary shaft 60.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various other embodiments can be taken within the scope of the present invention. It is clear to the person skilled in the art.

10, 90 Image forming apparatus 11 Case (apparatus main body)
12 Photoreceptor (image carrier)
22 Transfer device (transfer means)
34 Collection Container 38 Opening / Closing Mechanism 40 Collection Port 44 Separation Mechanism 48 Primary Transfer Roll (Transfer Member)
56 Intermediate transfer belt (transferred material)
60 axis of rotation (first axis of rotation)
60A Front end (end)
67 Convex part (engaged part)
68 Main body 68A Surface 76 Second rotating shaft 76B End (end) on the back side
78 Convex part (engagement part)
80, 92 connection structure (connection means)
94 Recess (engagement part)
96 Convex part (engaged part)
98 Wall

Claims (3)

The developer formed on the image carrier, comprising: a transfer member disposed in the apparatus main body and sandwiching the image receiving body with the image carrier; and a separation mechanism for separating the transfer member from the image carrier. A transfer unit that transfers an image to the transfer target;
A main body portion detachably mounted on the apparatus main body and covering the image carrier and the transfer means, a recovery port for recovering the developer in the main body portion, an opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing the recovery port, and the main body portion A recovery container provided with an operation unit for operating the opening and closing mechanism
The separation mechanism and the opening / closing mechanism are connected to each other in a mounted state where the collection container is attached to the apparatus main body, and a closing operation for closing the collection port of the opening / closing mechanism and the transfer member of the separation mechanism Interlocking means for interlocking the separating operation for moving away from the body,
An image forming apparatus comprising: The separation mechanism is configured to perform the separation operation by rotation of a first rotation shaft,
The opening / closing mechanism is configured to perform the closing operation by rotation of a second rotation shaft that is coaxial with the first rotation shaft in the mounted state of the collection container,
The interlocking means is provided at an engaged portion provided at one end of the first rotation shaft in the axial direction and at one end of the second rotation shaft in the axial direction, and in the mounted state of the collection container An engaging portion that engages with the engaged portion and allows the rotational force of the second rotating shaft to be transmitted to the first rotating shaft;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit is provided at the other end of the second rotation shaft in the axial direction, and applies a rotational force to the second rotation shaft by an operation. The engaged portion is a convex portion that protrudes outward in the axial direction of the first rotating shaft from the one end portion of the first rotating shaft;
The engaging portion is a recessed portion that is recessed from the one end portion of the second rotating shaft inward in the axial direction of the second rotating shaft, and the protruding portion is fitted therein.
An annular wall portion surrounding the convex portion is formed around the convex portion,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a protruding height of the wall portion is higher than that of the convex portion.

Images