JP6639632B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus provided with a detachable cartridge in an apparatus main body.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus, such as a printer, a facsimile, a copying machine, or a multifunction machine, for forming an image on a recording material using an image forming process is known. In the image forming apparatus, the image forming process means is singly or plurally combined to form an integrated unit, and is detachable from the apparatus main body as a cartridge. Examples of the cartridge include a developing cartridge in which a developing device is unitized, a drum cartridge in which a photosensitive drum, a charging device, and a photosensitive drum cleaner are unitized.

  In the image forming apparatus having such a configuration, the image forming process unit on the cartridge side does not operate alone, but operates by receiving a rotational driving force from a driving source such as a motor provided in the apparatus main body. Conventionally, in order to operate the image forming process means on the cartridge side, an Oldham coupling is provided on the cartridge, and the cartridge and the apparatus main body are sometimes connected by the Oldham coupling (Patent Document 1). The Oldham coupling is provided on a driven unit fixed to an image forming process unit (for example, a developing sleeve) on the cartridge side, a driving unit connected to a rotating body on the apparatus main body side, and each of the driving unit and the driven unit. And an intermediate portion having key grooves on both surfaces for engaging with the projections. The intermediate portion is provided between the driving portion and the driven portion, and slides while maintaining the engagement between the driving portion and the driven portion, thereby absorbing the axial deviation and moving the cartridge side from the rotating body on the apparatus main body side to the cartridge side. The rotation driving force (torque) is transmitted to the image forming process means.

  Further, when the apparatus main body and the cartridge are connected by the Oldham coupling, the cartridge can be moved between the attaching / detaching position and the driving position by utilizing the fact that the intermediate portion is slidable with respect to the driving portion and the driven portion. I have to. That is, the cartridge reciprocates along with the sliding movement of the intermediate portion between a detachable position where the cartridge can be detached from the apparatus main body and a driving position where the image forming process means on the cartridge side efficiently receives the rotational driving force from the apparatus main body. Is done.

JP 2011-170378 A

  By the way, when the cartridge is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body, if the image forming process means on the cartridge side is extremely close to the image forming process means on the apparatus main body side, they are likely to come into contact with each other. For example, when a developing cartridge that can be inserted and removed along the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum provided on the apparatus main body side is attached and detached, if the developing sleeve on the cartridge side comes into contact with the photosensitive drum on the apparatus main body side, these developing The sleeve and the photosensitive drum may be damaged. Therefore, in order to prevent the image forming process unit from coming into contact when the cartridge is attached or detached, it is preferable to increase the length from the above-mentioned attachment / detachment position to the drive position, that is, to secure the largest possible amount of movement of the intermediate portion.

  However, in the conventional configuration in which the Oldham coupling is provided in the cartridge, it may be difficult to secure a large amount of movement of the intermediate portion. For example, in the case where the developing cartridge has a protruding portion that protrudes in the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum at an end portion to be inserted into the apparatus main body, the movement amount of the intermediate portion that slides in a direction intersecting the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum is reduced. It is difficult to secure large. In this case, when the developing cartridge is attached to or detached from the apparatus main body, the developing sleeve on the developing cartridge side may come into contact with the photosensitive drum on the apparatus main body side.

  As described above, in the conventional configuration in which the Oldham coupling is disposed in the cartridge, the amount of movement of the intermediate portion cannot be sufficiently ensured. Contact was likely to occur with the forming process means.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problem, and is directed to an image forming apparatus in which contact between an image forming process means on the cartridge side and an image forming process means on the apparatus main body hardly occurs when the cartridge is attached to or detached from the apparatus main body. For the purpose of providing.

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an apparatus main body having a photoconductor, a driving source for generating a rotational driving force, a developer carrier capable of carrying a developer, and supplying a developer to the developer carrier. A transport member that rotates to transport the developer, and a first drive transmission unit that transmits a rotational driving force from the drive source to the transport member, and an electrostatic latent formed on the photoconductor. The apparatus main body is movable to a developing position at which an image can be developed by a developer carried on the developer carrying member, and a separated position at which the developer carrying member is separated from the photoconductor relative to the developing position; A cartridge mounted in the rotation axis direction of the transport member toward the separated position, and an Oldham coupling mechanism provided in the apparatus main body, wherein a rotating body that is rotated by the rotational driving force; Fits with first drive transmission part A second drive transmission unit that transmits the rotational drive force to the first drive transmission unit, and the rotation from the rotator to the second drive transmission unit between the rotator and the second drive transmission unit An Oldham coupling mechanism having an intermediate portion that transmits a driving force, wherein the second drive transmission portion is located at the first position when the cartridge is located at the separated position, and the cartridge is mounted at the developing position. When the cartridge is located at the second position, the cartridge is located at the second position, and interlocks with the movement of the cartridge between the separation position and the developing position. Moving between the second position .

  According to the present invention, when the cartridge is attached to or detached from the apparatus main body, it is possible to prevent the image forming process means provided on the cartridge side from coming into contact with the image forming process means provided on the apparatus main body side.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view illustrating a developing cartridge. FIG. 3 is a schematic top view showing a developing cartridge. It is a perspective view which shows the schematic structure of an Oldham coupling. It is a perspective view explaining a drive part and an intermediate part. It is a figure explaining a guidance part. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating mounting of a developing cartridge. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship between an attaching / detaching position, a driving position, and an engagement portion. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a connection state between a developing cartridge and an apparatus main body. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a connection state between a drum cartridge and an apparatus main body. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining mounting of a drum cartridge.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

[Image forming apparatus]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows a color image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method. The image forming apparatus 60 shown in FIG. 1 is a so-called intermediate transfer tandem type apparatus in which four color image forming units 600 are arranged in the apparatus main body 100 so as to face the intermediate transfer belt 61.

  The recording material conveying process of the image forming apparatus 60 will be described. The recording material S is stored in a form stacked in a recording material storage (cassette) 62, and is fed by a feed roller 63 in accordance with the image forming timing. Paper is fed from the recording material storage (cassette) 62 by, for example, a friction separation method. The recording material S sent out by the paper feed roller 63 is conveyed to a registration roller 65 arranged in the middle of the conveyance path 64. Then, after the skew of the recording material S and the timing correction are performed by the registration rollers 65, the recording material S is sent to the secondary transfer unit T2. The secondary transfer portion T2 is a transfer nip portion formed by the opposed inner secondary transfer roller 66 and the outer secondary transfer roller 67, and is provided on the recording material S by applying a predetermined pressing force and an electrostatic load bias. The toner image.

  With respect to the process of transporting the recording material S to the secondary transfer unit T2 described above, a process of forming an image sent to the secondary transfer unit T2 at the same timing will be described. First, the image forming unit 600 will be described. Since the configuration of the image forming unit for each color is basically the same except for the color of the toner, the image forming unit 600 for black (BK) will be representatively described below. I do.

  The image forming section 600 mainly includes a photosensitive drum 1 (photoconductor, image carrier), a charging device 2, a developing device 3 (developer carrier), a photosensitive drum cleaner 5, and the like. The surface of the photosensitive drum 1 that is driven to rotate is uniformly charged in advance by the charging device 2, and then an electrostatic latent image is formed by the exposure device 68 that is driven based on a signal of image information. Next, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 is visualized through toner development by the developing device 3. After that, a predetermined pressing force and an electrostatic load bias are applied by the primary transfer device 4 which is arranged to face the image forming unit 600 with the intermediate transfer belt 61 interposed therebetween, and the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt. The primary transfer is performed on the transfer belt 61. The transfer residual toner slightly remaining on the photosensitive drum 1 is removed by the photosensitive drum cleaner 5 to prepare for the next image forming process again. The image forming section 600 described above has four sets of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (BK) in the structure shown in FIG. However, the number of colors is not limited to four, and the order of colors is not limited to this. The developing device 3 uses a two-component developer in which a toner and a magnetic carrier are mixed as a developer. The toner is supplied from the toner bottle 605 set in the image forming apparatus 60 to the developing device 3 via a toner supply device (not shown).

  The intermediate transfer belt 61 will be described. The intermediate transfer belt 61 is an endless belt that is stretched by the tension roller 6, the secondary transfer inner roller 66, and the driven rollers 7a and 7b, and is transported and driven in the direction of arrow C in the drawing. Here, the secondary transfer inner roller 66 also serves as a driving roller for driving the intermediate transfer belt 61. The image forming processes of the respective colors, which are processed in parallel by the respective Y, M, C, and BK image forming units 600, are performed at the timing of sequentially superimposing on the upstream color toner image primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 61. Done. As a result, a full-color toner image is finally formed on the intermediate transfer belt 61, and is conveyed to the secondary transfer portion T2. The transfer residual toner after passing through the secondary transfer portion T2 is collected by the transfer cleaner device 8.

  As described above, the timing of the recording material S and the timing of the full-color toner image coincide with each other in the secondary transfer portion T2 by the transfer process and the image forming process described above, and the secondary transfer is performed. Thereafter, the recording material S is conveyed to the fixing device 9, and the toner image is melted and fixed on the recording material S by a predetermined pressure and heat. The recording material S on which the image has been fixed in this way is selected as to whether the recording material S is directly discharged onto the discharge tray 601 or to form a double-sided image by the forward rotation of the discharge roller 69.

  When double-sided image formation is required, after the rear end of the recording material S is conveyed by the forward rotation of the discharge roller 69 until it passes through the switching member 602, the front and rear ends are switched by rotating the discharge roller 69 in the reverse direction. Is transported to the double-sided transport path 603. Thereafter, the sheet is again fed to the conveying path 64 by the re-feeding roller 604 at the same timing as the recording material of the succeeding job conveyed by the sheet feeding roller 63. Subsequent conveyance and an image forming process on the back surface are the same as those in the above-described case, and a description thereof is omitted.

[Development cartridge]
In the image forming apparatus 60 according to the present embodiment, the developing device 3 does not operate alone, but is mounted on the image forming apparatus 60 and receives transmission of driving force, power supply, and the like from the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus 60. Thus, it is configured as a developing cartridge that operates. The developing device 3 (developing cartridge) will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The developing device 3 has a developing container 30 that contains a two-component developer composed of a non-magnetic toner and a magnetic carrier. The developer is replenished from the toner bottle 605 (see FIG. 1) via a toner transport path (not shown) to the developer container 30 through the developer replenishing port 32 by a developer replenishing device (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus 60. Is done. The inside of the developing container is partitioned by a partition into two transfer chambers (a developing chamber and a stirring chamber), and the developing chamber and the stirring chamber are connected at both ends in the longitudinal direction. The developing container 30 is provided with a plurality (for example, two) of developer conveying units. Specifically, a first transport screw 33 is rotatably supported in the developing chamber, and a second transport screw 34 is rotatably supported in the stirring chamber. The first and second transport screws 33 and 34 are arranged in parallel so that they are adjacent to each other and their respective rotation axes are in the same direction as the rotation axis of the developing sleeve 31 described later. Each of the first and second transport screws 33 and 34 has a screw structure in which a stirring blade made of a non-magnetic material is provided spirally around a rotation axis. The developer is circulated and transported through the developing chamber and the stirring chamber as the first and second transport screws 33 and 34 are driven.

  An opening is provided in the developing container 30 at a position facing the photosensitive drum 1 (see FIG. 1) on the apparatus main body side, and a developing sleeve 31 as a developer carrying member for carrying and transporting the developer is provided from this opening. It is arranged to expose a part thereof. The developer is supplied to the developing sleeve 31 from the developing chamber. The developer supplied to the developing sleeve 31 is carried on the developing sleeve 31 by a magnetic field generated by a magnet roller (not shown) provided in the developing sleeve 31. A regulating blade (not shown) for forming a thin layer of the developer on the surface of the developing sleeve 31 is arranged at a position close to the surface of the developing sleeve 31. The layer thickness of the developer carried on the developing sleeve 31 is regulated by the regulating blade, and the developer is conveyed to the developing area facing the photosensitive drum 1.

  The developing device 3 (hereinafter referred to as a developing cartridge) is detachably attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 100. That is, the developing cartridge 3 can be inserted into and removed from the apparatus main body 100 (see FIG. 1) so as to be slid in the longitudinal direction. The direction in which the developing cartridge 3 is inserted is the same as the direction of the rotation axis of the developing sleeve 31, the first and second transport screws 33 and 34, and may be the same as the direction of the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum 1 on the apparatus main assembly side. is there. Further, the direction is the same as the rotation axis direction of the drive unit 103 (see FIG. 4 described later) rotatably attached to the apparatus main body. As will be described in detail later, in the image forming apparatus 60 according to the present embodiment, an Oldham coupling that is a shaft coupling member is provided in the apparatus main body. Therefore, the developing cartridge 3 is provided with the coupling portion 201 as the second rotating body. As shown in FIG. 3, the coupling part 201 is rotated on the cartridge end side (the left side in FIG. 3) connected to the Oldham coupling (see FIG. 4 described later) provided in the apparatus main body 100. The first transport screw 33 as a member is fixed to one end in the rotation axis direction. That is, the rotation driving force is transmitted from the apparatus main body 100 to the first transport screw 33. The second transport screw 34 rotates following the rotation of the first transport screw 33.

  In the developing cartridge 3 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first and second transport screws 33 and 34 are arranged side by side and their ends are arranged at positions shifted in the direction of the rotation axis. Then, a part of the end of the cartridge connected to the Oldham coupling is formed in a stepped shape having a protruding portion 35 protruding toward the apparatus main body 100 (specifically, the stirring chamber is protruded from the developing chamber). The developer supply port 32 is provided on the upper surface of the protrusion 35. Here, of the first and second transport screws 33 and 34, the end of one second transport screw 34 is projected more than the end of the other first transport screw 33 in the direction of insertion into the apparatus main body. I have. Further, a developer supply port 32 for supplying the developer is provided at an end of the second transport screw 34. This is because the developer replenishing port 32 is positioned below the developer supply port of a developer replenishing device (not shown) provided in the apparatus main body 100 in a state where the developing cartridge 3 is mounted on the apparatus main body 100. This is for joining the supply port and the developer supply port 32 without any gap.

  By the way, according to the conventional configuration, the Oldham coupling is provided at the developing cartridge 3 side, specifically, at one end in the rotation axis direction of the first transport screw 33. In this case, it was difficult to secure a large moving amount of the intermediate portion. That is, since the outer peripheral surface of the Oldham coupling faces the protrusion 35, the size (specifically, the diameter) of the Oldham coupling is limited by the protrusion 35. If the diameter of the Oldham coupling cannot be increased, the amount of movement of the intermediate portion (the length of the first conveyance screw 33 that can move in the direction intersecting with the rotation axis direction) also decreases. In addition, since the intermediate portion moves in the direction intersecting the rotation axis direction of the first transport screw 33 in the first place, the movable range of the intermediate portion is limited by the protrusion 35. For these reasons, in the conventional configuration in which the Oldham coupling is provided in the developing cartridge 3, it is difficult to secure a large moving amount of the intermediate portion. If a large amount of movement of the intermediate portion cannot be ensured, the developing cartridge 3 is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 100 at a position where the distance between the developing sleeve 31 on the developing cartridge side and the photosensitive drum 1 on the apparatus main body is short. Then, when the developing cartridge 3 shakes when the developing cartridge 3 is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body, the shaking may cause the developing sleeve 31 and the photosensitive drum 1 to come into contact with each other and damage their surfaces.

  Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 60 according to the present embodiment, an Oldham coupling, which is a shaft coupling member, is provided in the apparatus main body, so that the movement amount of the intermediate portion is larger than in the related art. This will be described below.

[Oldham coupling]
The Oldham coupling will be described with reference to FIGS. The Oldham coupling shown in FIG. 4 includes an engaging portion 101, an intermediate portion 102, and a driving portion 103. The driving unit 103 as a first rotating body is attached to the apparatus main body so as to be rotatable and the rotation axis is substantially parallel to the direction of insertion into the apparatus main body, and drives a motor or the like as a rotating member provided in the apparatus main body. A source (not shown) rotates by receiving a rotational driving force generated by the source. As shown in FIG. 5, a rib 105 as an engaging member is provided integrally with the driving unit 103, and a groove 111 as an engaged member is formed in the intermediate unit 102. The rib 105 and the groove 111 are slidably fitted to each other, so that the intermediate portion 102 can move along the rib 105 in a direction intersecting the rotation axis direction of the driving portion 103. However, since the outer edge portion 103a protruding toward the cartridge side is provided on the outer periphery of the driving unit 103, the intermediate unit 102 reciprocates only within the driving unit 103. That is, the outer edge portion 103a regulates the movement of the intermediate portion 102.

  Further, a groove 112 is formed in the intermediate portion 102 on a surface opposite to a surface engaging with the driving portion 103. The engaging portion 101 is engaged with the groove 112 (see FIG. 4). The engagement portion 101 can move along the groove 112 in a direction intersecting the rotation axis direction of the driving portion 103. Then, the engaging portion 101 is engaged with a coupling portion 201 provided on the first transport screw 33 on a side opposite to the intermediate portion 102.

  As described above, the intermediate portion 102 is disposed between the driving portion 103 and the engaging portion 101 (see FIG. 4), and grooves 111 and 112 perpendicular to each other are formed on both surfaces of the intermediate portion 102 (see FIG. 4). (See FIG. 5). Therefore, when the engaging portion 101 is fixed, the intermediate portion 102 intersects in the rotation axis direction of the engaging portion 101 and the driving portion 103 while maintaining the engagement with the engaging portion 101 and the driving portion 103, respectively. And it can move in two directions orthogonal to each other. By the movement of the intermediate portion 102, the Oldham coupling absorbs the axial deviation between the driving portion 103 and the engaging portion 101, and further rotates the driving force generated in the apparatus main body 100 through the coupling portion 201 to the developing cartridge 3 side. To the first transport screw 33.

[Guide]
The guide section 104 holds the engagement section 101 rotatably. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the guide portion 104 includes an arm 104 a extending in the left-right direction (horizontal direction with respect to the main body ground plane) in the figure and an upper part in the figure (opposite the main body ground plane). And an arm 104b extending in a substantially T-shape. Both ends of the arm 104a are locked by a regulating portion 107 fixed to the apparatus main body 100. The restricting portion 107 is provided with a groove 107a extending vertically (in the direction perpendicular to the grounding surface of the main body) in the figure, and the tip of the arm 104a is fitted into the groove 107a. Therefore, the guide portion 104 moves only in the vertical direction in the drawing by the regulating portion 107 while holding the engaging portion 101. Then, the movement of the intermediate portion 102 engaged with the engaging portion 101 is restricted, and the intermediate portion 102 reciprocates between the attaching / detaching position shown in FIG. 6A and the driving position shown in FIG. 6B. Will be guided to. In this way, the developing cartridge 3 is correctly positioned at the attaching / detaching position and the driving position.

  The drive position is a position where the axis of the drive unit 103 and the axis of the engagement unit 101 substantially coincide with each other. In the drive position, the first transport screw 33 of the developing cartridge 3 connected to the engagement portion 101 via the coupling portion 201 is efficiently rotated from the drive source (not shown) of the apparatus main body 100 via the drive portion 103. It can receive driving force. On the other hand, the attachment / detachment position is a position at which the axis of the drive unit 103 and the axis of the engagement unit 101 are shifted (that is, eccentric) from the drive position. At the attachment / detachment position, the user can attach / detach the engagement portion 101 and the coupling portion 201 to detach / attach the developing cartridge 3 to / from the apparatus main body 100. In the driving position, the developing sleeve 31 is close to the photosensitive drum 1 provided on the apparatus main body 100 side, and in the attaching / detaching position, the developing sleeve 31 is separated from the photosensitive drum 1 provided on the apparatus main body 100 side.

  A biasing member 106 made of an elastic member such as a spring is attached to the arm 104b. The other end of the urging member 106 is fixed to the apparatus main body 100. The urging member 106 urges the guide 104 downward in the figure. Thus, when the developing cartridge 3 is not inserted, the guide portion 104 is naturally lowered by gravity to position the engaging portion 101 at the attachment / detachment position.

  By the way, the developing cartridge 3 is moved from the attaching / detaching position shown in FIG. 6A to the driving position shown in FIG. 6B in conjunction with opening and closing of a door provided on the apparatus main body, and is mounted on the apparatus main body 100. Is done. Therefore, the mounting of the developing cartridge 3 on the apparatus main body 100 will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 7A to 7D and FIGS. 8A and 8B.

  FIG. 7A shows a state in which the insertion of the developing cartridge 3 into the apparatus main body 100 is started. The door 40 is open. The developing cartridge 3 is inserted into the apparatus main body 100 from the door 40 side in the direction of arrow E in the figure (the longitudinal direction of the developing cartridge 3). In this state, as shown in FIG. 8A, the engaging portion 101 is waiting at the attachment / detachment position. The coupling portion 201 is located at a position facing the engaging portion 101, but is not engaged with the engaging portion 101.

  FIG. 7B shows a state in which the developing cartridge 3 is inserted all the way into the mounting main body. Door 40 remains open. When the developing cartridge 3 is inserted to the back of the apparatus main body (right side in the figure), the coupling unit 201 engages with the engaging unit 101. However, the engaging portion 101 (and the coupling portion 201) remains at the attachment / detachment position shown in FIG. That is, although the developing cartridge 3 is positioned in the longitudinal direction, it is not positioned in the vertical direction (the direction perpendicular to the main body ground plane) in the drawing.

  FIG. 7C shows a state in which the door 40 is slightly closed from the state shown in FIG. 7B. When the door 40 starts to be closed, the support member 50 provided on the apparatus main body 100 slides and is positioned below the developing cartridge 3 (main body grounding surface side). I support this. Even in this state, the engaging portion 101 (and the coupling portion 201) remains at the attachment / detachment position shown in FIG.

  Pressed members 36 are provided on the lower surface of the developing cartridge 3 at a plurality of locations (two locations in this case) on the side of the door 40 and on the inner side of the apparatus main body. The pressed member 36 is formed, for example, in a triangular cross section having an inclined surface in which the amount of downward projection increases from the door 40 side toward the back of the apparatus main body. On the other hand, on the support member 50, a pressing member 51 protruding toward the developing cartridge 3 is formed at a predetermined position corresponding to the pressed member 36 of the developing cartridge 3. The pressing member 51 is disposed on the support member 50 such that when the supporting member 50 is positioned below the developing cartridge 3, the pressing member 51 is located closer to the door 40 than the pressed member 36 of the developing cartridge 3.

  FIG. 7D shows a state where the doors 40 are all closed. When the door 40 is further closed from the state shown in FIG. 7C, the protrusion 41 provided on the door 40 comes into contact with the end surface of the support member 50, and the support member 50 is pushed into the apparatus main body. At the same time, the pressing member 51 of the support member 50 contacts the inclined surface of the pressed member 36 and presses the pressed member 36. Then, the developing cartridge 3 is pushed up in the drawing (the side opposite to the main body ground surface) until the pressed member 36 is placed on the pressing member 51. In accordance with this, the engaging portion 101 (and the coupling portion 201) is moved by the guide portion 104 from the attaching / detaching position shown in FIG. 8A to the driving position shown in FIG. 8B. At this time, the engaging portion 101 (and the coupling portion 201) is moved from the attaching / detaching position to the driving position by the above-described guide portion 104. When all the doors 40 are finally closed, the engaging portion 101 (and the coupling portion 201) is in a state where it is positioned at the driving position shown in FIG. 8B. As described above, the support member 50 supports the developing cartridge 3 and moves in the guide direction of the guide portion 104 in conjunction with the opening and closing of the door 40. As a result, the developing cartridge 3 is also positioned in the vertical direction in the figure, and is correctly mounted on the apparatus main body 100.

  When the door 40 of the apparatus main body 100 is completely opened from the closed state, the operation described with reference to FIGS. 7A to 7D is reversed, and the developing cartridge 3 is opened. Is moved from the driving position shown in FIG. 8B to the attaching / detaching position shown in FIG. 8A.

  FIG. 9 shows a connection state between the developing cartridge 3 and the apparatus main body 100 in the image forming apparatus 60 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus main body 100 and the developing cartridge 3 are connected by an Oldham coupling including a driving unit 103, an intermediate unit 102, and an engaging unit 101, and a coupling unit 201. As can be understood from FIG. 9, the intermediate portion 102 engaged with each of the drive portion 103 and the engagement portion 101 is located at the end of the stepped developing cartridge 3 (the side connected to the Oldham coupling). ) Is located closer to the apparatus body 100 than the protrusion 35 is.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus 60 according to the present embodiment in which the Oldham coupling is provided in the apparatus main body 100 and the coupling section 201 is provided in the developing cartridge 3, the position where the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate section 102 does not face the protruding section 35. The intermediate portion 102 can be arranged at the center. As such, the movement of the intermediate portion 102 is not restricted by the protrusion 35. In the image forming apparatus 60 according to the present embodiment, the size is limited only by the size of the driving unit 103. Similarly to the intermediate portion 102, the outer peripheral surface of the driving portion 103 can be disposed at a position not opposed to the protruding portion 35, so that the size (diameter) of the driving portion 103 is not limited by the protruding portion 35. Therefore, it is also possible to arrange the driving unit 103 having a larger diameter. In other words, the moving amount of the intermediate portion 102 can be easily adjusted only by changing to the driving portion 103 having a different diameter. As described above, in the image forming apparatus 60 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to secure a larger moving amount of the intermediate unit 102 than in the related art. Since a large amount of movement of the intermediate portion 102 can be secured, even if the developing cartridge 3 shakes when the developing cartridge 3 is attached to or detached from the apparatus main body 100, the developing sleeve 31 does not contact the photosensitive drum 1 due to the shake.

Further, since the guide section 104 moves the developing cartridge 3 so as to reciprocate between the attaching / detaching position shown in FIG. 6A and the driving position shown in FIG. The developing cartridge 3 can be reliably engaged with the engaging portion 101. Further, when the developing cartridge 3 is automatically moved in conjunction with the door 40 to be mounted on the apparatus main body 100, the developing cartridge 3 can be correctly positioned at the driving position or the attaching / detaching position.

  The configuration according to the present embodiment can be similarly applied to an image forming apparatus in which a drum cartridge in which the photosensitive drum 1, the charging device 2, and the photosensitive drum cleaner 5 are integrated is mounted on the apparatus main body 100. Therefore, an image forming apparatus in which the drum cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the illustration of the charging device 2 is omitted for convenience of illustration.

[Drum cartridge]
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a connection state between the drum cartridge and the apparatus main body. The drum cartridge 200 is different from the developing cartridge 3 shown in FIG. 9 in that the photosensitive drum 1 is provided at the position of the first carrying screw 33 and the collected toner carrying screw 71 is provided at the position of the second carrying screw 34. Further, a developer discharge port 72 is provided on the lower surface side of the protrusion 35. A photosensitive drum cleaner 5 is provided at a position facing the photosensitive drum 1, and the photosensitive drum cleaner 5 can remove transfer residual toner slightly remaining on the photosensitive drum 1. The collected transfer residual toner is conveyed to a developer discharge port 72 by a collected toner conveying screw 71 as a developer conveying means and discharged to the outside. The drum cartridge 200 is mounted so that the developer discharge port 72 communicates with the opening of a discharge developer bottle (not shown) in the apparatus main body 100. In the drum cartridge 200 having such a configuration, a shutter 73 that opens and closes the developer discharge port 72 in accordance with the attaching / detaching operation is provided so that the developer does not leak when the cartridge is attached to / detached from the apparatus main body 100. In the case of the drum cartridge 200, the photosensitive drum 1 is close to the developing sleeve 31 provided on the apparatus main body 100 side in the driving position, and is separated from the developing sleeve 31 provided on the apparatus main body 100 side in the attaching / detaching position. I do.

  The drum cartridge 200 is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 100 (see FIG. 1) so as to be slid in the longitudinal direction. That is, the mounting / removing direction of the drum cartridge 200 is the same as the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum 1 and the collected toner conveying screw 71, and is also the same as the rotation axis of the developing sleeve (not shown) on the apparatus main body side. As in the case of the developing cartridge 3 described above, since the Oldham coupling is provided in the apparatus main body 100, the coupling portion 201 is provided in the drum cartridge 200. As shown in FIG. 10, the coupling portion 201 is fixed to one end of the photosensitive drum 1 in the rotation axis direction on the side of the cartridge end (the left side in FIG. 10) connected to the Oldham coupling. That is, the rotation driving force is transmitted from the apparatus main body 100 to the photosensitive drum 1.

  In the drum cartridge 200 shown in FIG. 10, the photosensitive drum 1 and the collected toner conveying screw 71 are arranged side by side, and their ends are arranged at positions shifted in the direction of the rotation axis. The end of the cartridge connected to the Oldham coupling is formed in a stepped shape having a protruding portion 35 in which the recovered toner conveying screw 71 protrudes more toward the apparatus main body 100 than the photosensitive drum 1. Here, of the photosensitive drum 1 and the recovered toner transport screw 71, the end of the recovered toner transport screw 71 protrudes beyond the end of the photosensitive drum 1 in the direction of insertion into the apparatus main body. Further, a developer outlet 72 for discharging the developer is provided at an end of the recovered toner conveying screw 71.

  By the way, the drum cartridge 200 is moved from the attaching / detaching position shown in FIG. 6A to the driving position shown in FIG. 6B in conjunction with opening and closing of a door provided in the apparatus main body, and is mounted on the apparatus main body 100. Is done. Therefore, the mounting operation of the drum cartridge 200 to the apparatus main body 100 will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 11A to 11D and FIGS. 8A and 8B.

  FIG. 11A shows a state in which the insertion of the drum cartridge 200 into the apparatus main body 100 is started. The door 40 is open. The drum cartridge 200 is inserted into the apparatus main body 100 from the door 40 side in the direction of arrow E in the figure (the longitudinal direction of the drum cartridge). In this state, as shown in FIG. 8A, the engaging portion 101 is waiting at the attachment / detachment position. The coupling portion 201 is located at a position facing the engaging portion 101, but is not engaged with the engaging portion 101. The shutter 73 is at a position where the developer outlet 72 is closed.

  FIG. 11B shows a state in which the drum cartridge 200 has been inserted all the way into the mounting main body. However, the door 40 remains open. When the drum cartridge 200 is inserted to the inside of the apparatus main body (right side in the figure), the coupling unit 201 engages with the engaging unit 101. However, the engaging portion 101 (and the coupling portion 201) remains at the attachment / detachment position shown in FIG. That is, the drum cartridge 200 is positioned in the longitudinal direction, but is not positioned in the vertical direction (the direction perpendicular to the grounding surface of the apparatus main body 100). The shutter 73 is at a position where the developer outlet 72 is closed.

  FIG. 11C shows a state where the door 40 is slightly closed from the state shown in FIG. 11B. When the door 40 starts to be closed, the supporting member 50 provided on the apparatus main body 100 slides and is positioned below the drum cartridge 200 (main body grounding surface side). I support this. Even in this state, the engaging portion 101 (and the coupling portion 201) remains at the attachment / detachment position shown in FIG. Further, the shutter 73 remains at the position where the developer outlet 72 is closed.

  Further, on the lower surface of the drum cartridge 200, pressed members 36 are provided at a plurality of positions (here, two positions) on the door 40 side and the back side of the apparatus main body 100. The pressed member 36 is formed, for example, in a triangular cross section having an inclined surface in which the amount of downward projection increases from the door 40 side toward the back of the apparatus main body. On the other hand, a pressing member 51 projecting toward the drum cartridge 200 is formed on the support member 50 in association with the pressed member 36 of the drum cartridge 200. The pressing member 51 is disposed on the support member 50 such that when the supporting member 50 is positioned below the drum cartridge 200, the pressing member 51 is positioned closer to the door 40 than the pressed member 36 of the drum cartridge 200.

  FIG. 11D shows a state where the doors 40 are all closed. When the door 40 is further closed from the state shown in FIG. 11C, the protrusion 41 provided on the door 40 comes into contact with the end surface of the support member 50, and the support member 50 is pushed into the back of the apparatus main body. At the same time, the pressing member 51 of the support member 50 contacts the inclined surface of the pressed member 36 and presses the pressed member 36. Then, the drum cartridge 200 is pushed upward in such a manner that the pressed member 36 is placed on the pressing member 51. Accordingly, the engaging portion 101 (and the coupling portion 201) moves from the attaching / detaching position shown in FIG. 8A to the driving position shown in FIG. 8B. At this time, the engagement portion 101 (and the coupling portion 201) is accurately moved from the attachment / detachment position toward the drive position by the guide portion 104. When all the doors 40 are closed, the engaging portion 101 (and the coupling portion 201) is in a state where it is positioned at the driving position shown in FIG. 8B. Thus, the drum cartridge 200 is mounted on the apparatus main body 100.

  The pressing member 51 pushes the drum cartridge 200 upward until the engaging portion 101 (and the coupling portion 201) is positioned at the driving position, and then contacts the projecting portion 74 of the shutter 73. Then, when the door 40 is further closed, the pressing member 51 pushes the projecting portion 74 of the shutter 73 toward the back of the apparatus main body. Then, the shutter 73 closing the developer outlet 72 moves to a position where the developer outlet 72 is opened. Thus, the developer discharge port 72 is communicated with the opening of the discharge developer bottle (not shown) in the apparatus main body 100.

  When the door 40 of the apparatus main body 100 is opened from the closed state, the shutter 73 opens the developer outlet 72 in response to the movement of the support member 50 toward the door 40. Move to closed position. Then, the operations described with reference to FIGS. 11A to 11D are reversed, and the drum cartridge 200 is lowered. Accordingly, the engaging portion 101 (and the coupling portion 201) is moved from the driving position shown in FIG. 8B to the attaching / detaching position shown in FIG.

  As described above, the configuration according to the present embodiment can be similarly applied to the case of the drum cartridge 200, whereby the same effect as that of the developing cartridge 3 described above can be obtained. In other words, a large amount of movement of the intermediate portion 102 can be ensured, so that even when the drum cartridge 200 swings when being attached to or detached from the apparatus main body 100, the developing sleeve on the apparatus main body 100 side and the photosensitive sleeve on the drum cartridge 200 side can be used. No contact with drum 1. Further, the moving amount of the intermediate unit 102 can be easily adjusted only by changing the size (specifically, the diameter) of the driving unit 103. Further, even when the mounting of the drum cartridge 200 is automatically performed in conjunction with the door 40, the guide portion 104 can correctly position the drum cartridge 200 at the driving position or the attaching / detaching position.

  In the above-described embodiment, as the cartridge, a developing cartridge in which only a developing device is unitized, or a drum cartridge in which a photosensitive drum, a charging device, and a photosensitive drum cleaner are unitized, is not limited thereto. For example, a process cartridge in which a photosensitive drum, a charging device, a photosensitive drum cleaner, and a developing device are unitized may be used.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 photosensitive drum 3 developing device (developing cartridge) 5 photosensitive drum cleaner 30 developing container 31 developing sleeve 32 developer supply port 33 first transport screw 34 second transport screw 35 .. Projecting portion, 40 Door, 50 Support member 60 Image forming device 71 Recovered toner conveying screw 72 Developer outlet 73 Shutter 100 Device body 101 Engaging portion 102 Intermediate portion 103, a driving unit 103a, an outer edge, 104, a guide unit, 105, a rib, 200, a drum cartridge 201, a coupling unit

Claims (12)

A photoreceptor, an apparatus body having a driving source for generating a rotational driving force,
A developer carrying member capable of carrying a developer, a carrying member rotating to supply the developer to the developer carrying member and carrying the developer, and a rotational driving force from the drive source to the carrying member. And a first drive transmitting portion for transmitting the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member, the developing position being capable of being developed by a developer carried on the developer carrying member; A cartridge which is movable to a separated position where the agent carrier is separated from the photoreceptor, and is mounted in the rotation axis direction of the transport member toward the separated position with respect to the apparatus main body;
An Oldham coupling mechanism provided in the apparatus main body, wherein the rotating body rotates by the rotational driving force, and the rotational driving force is transmitted to the first drive transmitting unit by fitting with the first drive transmitting unit. An Oldham coupling mechanism having a second drive transmitting portion, and an intermediate portion for transmitting the rotational driving force from the rotary member to the second drive transmitting portion between the rotating member and the second drive transmitting portion; ,
The second drive transmission unit is located at the first position when the cartridge is located at the separated position, is located at the second position when the cartridge is located at the developing position, and is located at the separated position of the cartridge. Moving between the first position and the second position in a state of being fitted with the first drive transmission unit in conjunction with movement between the first position and the developing position;
An image forming apparatus comprising: A rotation axis of the rotating body is substantially parallel to a direction in which the cartridge is inserted into the apparatus main body.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The second drive transmission unit moves between the first position and the second position in a radial direction of the rotating body;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The amount of misalignment between the axis of the second drive transmission unit and the axis of the rotating body when located at the first position is the axis of the second drive transmission unit when located at the second position. Is larger than the amount of displacement between the axis of rotation and the axis of the rotating body,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The second drive transmission unit engages with the first drive transmission unit at the first position when the cartridge is mounted, and transmits the rotational driving force to the first drive transmission unit at the second position. Do
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The intermediate portion is slidably engaged with the rotating body in a radial direction of the rotating body,
The second drive transmission unit is slidably engaged with the intermediate unit in a direction orthogonal to a moving direction of the intermediate unit with respect to the rotating body and a rotation axis direction of the rotating body.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The rotating body has a protrusion extending in a radial direction of the rotating body,
The intermediate portion is provided on a surface facing the rotating body in the rotation axis direction of the rotating body, and a first groove portion slidably engaged with the protrusion, and in the rotation axis direction of the rotating body. A second groove provided on a surface facing the second drive transmission unit and extending in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the first groove extends and a rotation axis direction of the rotating body;
The second drive transmission unit is slidably engaged with the second groove, and is slidable in a direction in which the second groove extends.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: The rotating body has a regulating portion that regulates movement of the intermediate portion in a radial direction of the rotating body,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: A guide unit that rotatably holds the second drive transmission unit and guides movement of the second drive transmission unit between the first position and the second position;
An urging member for urging the guide unit in a direction in which the second drive transmission unit moves from the second position to the first position;
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein: The cartridge is configured to pivotally support the developer carrier and the transport member, and accommodates the developer, and an insertion direction of the cartridge relative to a portion of the accommodating portion that pivotally supports the developer carrier. Having a protruding portion protruding toward the downstream side,
The intermediate portion is disposed downstream of the protruding portion in the insertion direction of the cartridge in a state where the first drive transmission portion and the second drive transmission portion are fitted,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The protrusion has a supply port for supplying developer,
The intermediate portion is disposed downstream of the supply port in the insertion direction of the cartridge in a state where the first drive transmission portion and the second drive transmission portion are fitted,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein: An opening / closing member that is opened and closed when the cartridge is inserted and withdrawn, and a support member that supports the cartridge and moves the cartridge from the separated position to the developing position in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing member. Having,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

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